Translating the Spanish Verb Probar to English

Although the Spanish verb probar comes from the same Latin word as the English verb prove, it has a much wider range of meanings than the English word. It carries with it the idea not only of verifying that something is true, valid or suitable, but also of testing or trying to determine if that is the case. In fact, it can more often be translated as to test or to try than as to prove. Probar Meaning To Prove When it means to prove, probar is often followed by que: Hernando de Magallanes probà ³ que la Tierra es redonda. (Ferdinand Magellan proved that the Earth is round.) Los cientà ­ficos probaron que el cerebro de los sicà ³patas es biolà ³gicamente diferente. (The scientists proved that the brain of psychopaths is biologically different.) Si pides asilo polà ­tico en cualquier lugar, tienes que probar que hay persecucià ³n polà ­tica. (If you ask for political asylum anywhere, you have to prove that there is political persecution.) A veces tengo la sensacià ³n que alguien me observa, pero no puedo probarlo. (Sometimes I have the feeling that someone is watching me, but I cant prove it.) Probar Meaning To Test or To Try Probar is used in a wide variety of contexts to refer to the trying or testing of an item or activity. The context will determine whether try or test is a suitable translation, although often either one can be used. Los cientà ­ficos probaron la tà ©cnica en ratones diabà ©ticos. (The scientists tested the technique on diabetic mice.) Se probà ³ el mà ©todo tradicional empleado en el laboratorio. (The traditional method used in the laboratory was tried.) Se probà ³ la droga en catorce personas. (The drug was tested on 14 people.) Cuando la compaà ±Ãƒ ­a probà ³ Windows Server, vio importantes beneficios. (When the company tried Windows Server, it saw important advantages.) Una patata chiquita querrà ­a volar. Probaba y probaba y no podà ­a volar. (A little potato wanted to fly. She tried and she tried and she could not fly.) Using Probar in Reference to Food and Clothing Probar is very commonly used when referring to tasting food or putting on clothing, usually but not necessarily to see whether it is suitable. In a few cases, as in the final example below, it can refer to a habitual action rather than a single event. As in the examples below, it is very common to use the reflexive form, probarse, when referring to the trying on of clothing. Yo no querrà ­a probar los saltamontes fritos. (I didnt want to taste the fried grasshoppers.) Esta sopa de pollo es muy cicatrizante y te ayudarà ¡.  ¡Prà ³bala! (This chicken soup is very healing and will help you. Taste it!) Marco llegà ³ y rà ¡pidamente se probà ³ la camisa oficial del equipo. (Marco arrived and quickly tried on the teams official shirt.) Cenicienta se probà ³ la zapatilla de cristal. (Cinderella put on the crystal slipper.) Alejandra no prueba la carne porque piensa que es mà ¡s sano ser vegetariana. (Alejandra doesnt eat meat because she believes it is healthier to be a vegetarian.) In the negative form when referring to food or drink, probar can indicate that the person doesnt consume the product at all. No pruebo la carne de caballo. (I dont eat horse meat.) Phrases Using Probar The most common phrase using probar is obligacià ³n de probar, a legal term meaning burden of proof. En Estados Unidos, el fiscal tiene la obligacià ³n de probar. (In the United States, the prosecutor has the burden of proof.) Probar suerte typically means to try ones luck. Nuestra hija prueba suerte en Hollywood. (Our daughter is trying her luck in Hollywood.)