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nutrir

verbUpper-intermediate

What does “nutrir” mean in English?

  1. to nurture, to develop

    to nurture, to develop (to feed and sustain growth, literal or figurative; nutrir relaciones / ideas)

Example sentences

  • nutrir la creatividad de los estudiantes

    to nurture students' creativity

  • el movimiento se nutre de las ideas de la filosofía clásica

    the movement draws on ideas from classical philosophy

How to use it

'Nutrir' literally means to nourish (provide food/nutrients). Figuratively at B2, it means to nurture, feed, or develop something: 'nutrir la creatividad', 'nutrirse de información'. The reflexive 'nutrirse de' (to draw sustenance from) is a useful academic phrase. The adjective 'nutritivo' is an important derivative.

Common mistake

Don't limit 'nutrir' to the literal food sense — the figurative use (nurture an idea, talent, or movement) is equally important and very frequent in B2 academic and cultural texts.

Topics

Related Upper-intermediate words

Reference

This entry’s teaching guidance follows Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes), B2 Nociones específicas 4.5.