Ruborizarse Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

ruborizarse means "to blush" in English, and it is a verb you will use constantly once you start speaking Spanish for real. This page shows ruborizarse in everyday sentences, grouped by meaning, then puts it into two short conversations, lists the mistakes learners actually make, and finishes with a ten-question quiz and answers to the most common questions. Every sentence below uses a real form of ruborizarse, so you can copy the patterns and change the person, the tense and the complement to make your own versions. Start with the examples, say them aloud, and then try the quiz without looking back.

Example sentences with ruborizarse

Everyday use

Ruborizarse means to blush. The sentences below show it in everyday use, in different tenses and persons.

  1. Yo me ruborizo de vergüenza — "I blush with embarrassment"
  2. Él se ruboriza al hablar en público — "He blushes when speaking in public"
  3. Yo me ruboricé con el cumplido — "I blushed at the compliment"
  4. Yo me ruborizaba de vergüenza — "I used to blush with embarrassment"
  5. Yo me ruborizaré al hablar en público — "I will blush when speaking in public"
  6. Yo me he ruborizado con el cumplido — "I have blushed at the compliment"

In the past and the future

The same verb in the past and the future: the form changes, but the meaning stays the same.

  1. Él se ruborizó con el cumplido — "He blushed at the compliment"
  2. Él se ruborizaba de vergüenza — "He used to blush with embarrassment"
  3. Tú te ruborizarás al hablar en público — "You will blush when speaking in public"
  4. Yo me ruborizaría con el cumplido — "I would blush at the compliment"
  5. Yo me había ruborizado de vergüenza — "I had blushed with embarrassment"
  6. Nosotros nos ruborizamos al hablar en público — "We blush when speaking in public"

Ruborizarse in conversation

The two dialogues below show ruborizarse in natural conversation. Read both parts aloud, then try to continue each dialogue with a sentence of your own.

Dialogue 1

  • ¿Tú te ruborizas de vergüenza? — "Do you blush with embarrassment?"
  • Sí, yo me ruborizo de vergüenza cada día. — "Yes, I blush with embarrassment every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿Tú te ruborizaste al hablar en público? — "And yesterday? Did you blush when speaking in public?"
  • Sí, yo me ruboricé al hablar en público. — "Yes, I blushed when speaking in public."
  • Mañana, yo me ruborizaré con el cumplido también. — "Tomorrow, I will blush at the compliment too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿Vosotros os ruborizáis de vergüenza? — "Do you blush with embarrassment?"
  • Sí, nosotros nos ruborizamos de vergüenza los fines de semana. — "Yes, We blush with embarrassment at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿Ellos se ruborizan al hablar en público? — "And them? Do they blush when speaking in public?"
  • Sí, ellos se ruborizan al hablar en público también. — "Yes, They blush when speaking in public too."
  • Mañana nosotros nos ruborizaremos al hablar en público otra vez. — "Tomorrow we will blush when speaking in public again."

Useful phrases with ruborizarse

Four patterns you can use with ruborizarse in any conversation. The reflexive pronoun attaches to the end of the infinitive: ruborizarme. Only the first verb changes.

  • Voy a ruborizarme de vergüenza. — "I am going to blush with embarrassment."
  • Quiero ruborizarme al hablar en público. — "I want to blush when speaking in public."
  • Me gusta ruborizarme con el cumplido. — "I like to blush at the compliment."
  • Acabo de ruborizarme de vergüenza. — "I have just blushed with embarrassment."

Common mistakes with ruborizarse in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Yo ruborizo de vergüenza.
  • Right: Yo me ruborizo de vergüenza.
  • Why: Ruborizarse is reflexive: the pronoun me is required. Without it, ruborizo means something else, or nothing at all.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo me ruboricé.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo me ruborizo.
  • Why: Todos los días means every day, so the action is a habit and needs the present tense. The preterite is for one finished action, not for routines.

Mistake 3

  • Wrong: Ruborizarse es lo mismo que sonrojarse.
  • Right: Ruborizarse means to blush; sonrojarse means to blush.
  • Why: Ruborizarse and sonrojarse describe different things. They appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable.

Mistake 4

  • Wrong: Ayer, yo me ruborizo.
  • Right: Ayer, yo me ruboricé.
  • Why: Ayer means yesterday, so the action is finished and needs the preterite (ruboricé). The present (ruborizo) is for habits and for now.

Mistake 5

  • Wrong: Espero que él ruboriza de vergüenza.
  • Right: Espero que él se ruborice de vergüenza.
  • Why: After espero que, Spanish needs the present subjunctive: ruborice. The indicative form would be wrong here.

Quiz: ruborizarse in use

Ten questions on ruborizarse across the tenses. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.

1. What is the I form of ruborizarse in the present tense?

  • (a) habrán ruborizado
  • (b) habrías ruborizado
  • (c) ruborizo
  • (d) ruborices

Answer: (c) ruborizo. The I form in the present is ruborizo.

2. What is the he / she form of ruborizarse in the present tense?

  • (a) ruborices
  • (b) ruborizara
  • (c) ruboriza
  • (d) ruborizarás

Answer: (c) ruboriza. The he / she form in the present is ruboriza.

3. What is the he / she form of ruborizarse in the preterite tense?

  • (a) habrían ruborizado
  • (b) ruboricemos
  • (c) ruborizaste
  • (d) ruborizó

Answer: (d) ruborizó. The he / she form in the preterite is ruborizó.

4. What is the I form of ruborizarse in the imperfect tense?

  • (a) ruborizaba
  • (b) ruborizaríais
  • (c) ruborizaron
  • (d) ruborizaríamos

Answer: (a) ruborizaba. The I form in the imperfect is ruborizaba.

5. What is the I form of ruborizarse in the future tense?

  • (a) habré ruborizado
  • (b) ruborizaré
  • (c) ruborizarías
  • (d) ruborizáramos

Answer: (b) ruborizaré. The I form in the future is ruborizaré.

6. What is the I form of ruborizarse in the present perfect tense?

  • (a) ruborizará
  • (b) ruborizasteis
  • (c) ruboricé
  • (d) he ruborizado

Answer: (d) he ruborizado. The I form in the present perfect is he ruborizado.

7. Complete the sentence: Espero que él se ___ de vergüenza.

  • (a) ruboricemos
  • (b) ruborices
  • (c) ruborice
  • (d) ruboricen

Answer: (c) ruborice. The he / she form in the present subjunctive is ruborice.

8. What is the we form of ruborizarse in the present tense?

  • (a) ruborizaron
  • (b) ruborizamos
  • (c) ruborice
  • (d) ruborizaba

Answer: (b) ruborizamos. The we form in the present is ruborizamos.

9. What is the I form of ruborizarse in the preterite tense?

  • (a) habrán ruborizado
  • (b) ruboricé
  • (c) ruborizarías
  • (d) han ruborizado

Answer: (b) ruboricé. The I form in the preterite is ruboricé.

10. What is the they form of ruborizarse in the present tense?

  • (a) habíais ruborizado
  • (b) ruborizarás
  • (c) ruborizaría
  • (d) ruborizan

Answer: (d) ruborizan. The they form in the present is ruborizan.

Frequently asked questions about ruborizarse

Is ruborizarse reflexive?

Yes. The pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se go with the verb in every tense: me ruborizo, te ruborizas, se ruboriza. The tables show the verb forms; add the pronoun in front.

What is the difference between ruborizarse and sonrojarse?

Ruborizarse means to blush. Sonrojarse means to blush. Use ruborizarse when you mean to blush, as in Yo me ruborizo de vergüenza.

How do I say “I blush” in the past?

For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo me ruboricé al hablar en público. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Yo me ruborizaba con el cumplido.

How can I practise ruborizarse?

Start with the examples above: say each sentence aloud, then change the person and the complement. Then take the quiz, and finish with the Verb Quiz and the Conjugation Practice tools, which test the same forms in a different order. A few minutes a day with one verb is worth more than an hour once a week.

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