desenvolver
to unwrap
To unwrap something
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
visual
des-
reversal prefix
+
envolver
to wrap
Desenvolver means to unwrap and is literally to un-wrap something, to remove or reverse the wrapping.
desenvolver
to unwrap, to unwind
To take the wrapping off something, or to unroll what was rolled up.
El niño desenvolvió su regalo de cumpleañosThe boy unwrapped his birthday present
Desenvolvió el cable con cuidadoShe unwound the cable carefully
to develop, to unfold (an idea or matter)
To un-wrap something abstract, laying out an idea or matter so it can be understood in full.
El autor desenvuelve su argumento a lo largo del capítuloThe author develops his argument throughout the chapter
El profesor desenvolvió la teoría paso a pasoThe teacher unfolded the theory step by step
desenvolverse
to manage, to cope, to get by
The 'se' turns the unwrapping on yourself: unwrapping yourself frees you from what binds you, so you move and act with ease and handle a situation well.
Se desenvuelve muy bien en las entrevistasHe manages very well in interviews
A pesar de los nervios, me desenvolví sin problemasDespite the nerves, I got by without any trouble
to unfold, to develop (a situation)
The 'se' means the situation unwraps itself, with no one doing it from the outside: it simply unfolds on its own.
La trama se desenvuelve poco a pocoThe plot unfolds little by little
La reunión se desenvolvió con normalidadThe meeting developed normally