To scold someone, and by extension to grumble or quarrel
Encoding Strategies:
mnemonic
rage
strong anger
+
on
on top of
+
-ar
verb suffix
Regañar means to scold and sounds like you're dumping your rage0 on1 someone, since scolding someone is letting your anger out at them.
regañar
to scold, to tell off
When you tell someone off for doing something wrong.
Mi mamá me regañó por llegar tarde a la cenaMy mom scolded me for arriving late to dinner
El entrenador regañó al equipo después del partidoThe coach told the team off after the game
to grumble, to grouse
When you complain and mutter constantly, as if you're angry about nothing in particular.
Mi abuelo regaña todo el día por el ruido de la calleMy grandfather grumbles all day about the noise from the street
Deja de regañar y ayúdame con las cajasStop grousing and help me with the boxes
to argue, to fight (Latin America)
When two people quarrel back and forth, as if they're scolding one another.
Mis hermanos regañan por cualquier cosaMy siblings argue over anything
Regañaron toda la noche y al final nadie tenía razónThey fought all night and in the end nobody was right