separar

In a sentence

• Vaig separar els llibres per categories.

  I sorted the books by categories.

  Here, 'separar' is used to mean 'to sort or divide something into different groups or categories'.

• Hem de separar la roba blanca de la de colors abans de rentar-la.

  We need to separate the white clothes from the colored ones before washing them.

  In this sentence, 'separar' indicates the action of keeping items apart because of their characteristics or treatment—often for practical reasons.

• Vam decidir separar-nos després de molts anys junts.

  We decided to separate after many years together.

  Here, 'separar' expresses the action of ending a union or relationship, used metaphorically.