frotar
verbUpper-intermediate
What does “frotar” mean in English?
to rub
to rub (frotar + surface — deliberate sustained contact; frotarse — rub oneself; reflexive)
Example sentences
El técnico frotó suavemente la superficie con un paño especial para eliminar las manchas.
The technician gently rubbed the surface with a special cloth to remove the stains.
Se frotó los ojos con cansancio después de horas delante de la pantalla del ordenador.
He rubbed his eyes tiredly after hours in front of the computer screen.
How to use it
Frotar means 'to rub'. Structure: frotar + noun (surface); frotarse (rub oneself — reflexive). Physical action verb, less frequent in formal registers but important in technical, cleaning, and medical contexts. Collocations: frotar con un paño, frotar la herida, frotarse las manos.
Common mistake
Frotar (rub — sustained back-and-forth motion) vs. rozar (brush/graze — light surface contact) vs. rascar (scratch — with nails or sharp edge). Frotar implies more deliberate pressure than rozar.
Topics
Related Upper-intermediate words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes), B2 Funciones 6.90.