(1) PINTAR AS TO PAINT
When we talk about the process of creating a work of art by using paint, brushes, or other techniques, or covering a surface with paint, we translate “pintar” as “to paint”:
- Goya comienza a pintar en Zaragoza como aprendiz de José Luzán. Goya starts painting in Zaragoza as José Luzán’s apprentice.
(2) PINTAR AS TO LOOK, TO SEEM
When we use this term colloquially to describe the appearance (literal or figurative) of something or someone, we translate “pintar” as “to look” or “to seem”:
- La nueva exhibición de Goya pinta muy bien. The new Goya exhibit looks great.
(3) PINTARSE AS TO LEAVE, TO TAKE OFF
When we use the word “pintar” to refer colloquially to the action of leaving a place, we use the verbs “to leave”, “to bail” or “to take off”:
- Los chicos se pintaron antes de que llegara el director. The kids took off before the principal arrived.