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probe and Spanish probar
In English
probe
a thorough investigation / a space probe
In Spanish
probar
degustar, intentar
Spanish "probar" means: to taste / to try
Why they get mixed up Spanish "probar" means to verify something or to taste it. English "probe" is a thorough investigation or a space exploration instrument. It also means to examine something closely. Tasting or trying in English is "test" or "taste."
If you want to say...
- probeinvestigación o sonda
- tasteprobar
- try onprobarse
Examples
Police launched a probe into the case.
La policía abrió una investigación del caso.
The space probe reached Mars.
La sonda espacial llegó a Marte.
The senator called for a probe into the accident.
El senador pidió una investigación sobre el accidente.
The doctor used a probe to check the wound.
El doctor usó una sonda para revisar la herida.
Common mistakes in Spanish
Incorrect: La policía probó a fondo el caso.
Correct: La policía investigó a fondo el caso.
Probar means to try, taste or prove. To probe, use investigar or sondear.
Incorrect: Lanzaron una prueba espacial a Marte.
Correct: Lanzaron una sonda espacial a Marte.
Sonda is a probe.
Phrases you will hear
- a police probeuna investigación policial
- a probe into corruptionuna investigación sobre corrupción
- a space probeuna sonda espacial
- a medical probeuna sonda médica
- tasteprobar (comida)
- try onprobarse ropa
In a conversation
- A:
Police launched a probe.
La policía abrió una investigación.
- B:
Into what?
¿Sobre qué?
- A:
Corruption. Also, a space probe reached Mars.
Corrupción. Además, una sonda espacial llegó a Marte.
- B:
Let me taste this soup before we discuss it.
Déjame probar esta sopa antes de discutirlo.
Test yourself
"A police probe" is...
To remember it
Probe = a thorough investigation (or a space probe). Tasting/trying (Spanish "probar") = taste/try.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spanish "probar" mean?
Spanish "probar" means "to taste / to try". It looks like the English "probe", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "probe" means "a thorough investigation / a space probe".
Does English "probe" mean the same as Spanish "probar"?
Spanish "probar" means to verify something or to taste it. English "probe" is a thorough investigation or a space exploration instrument. It also means to examine something closely. Tasting or trying in English is "test" or "taste."