Rociar vs. pulverizar
While both rociar and pulverizar can be translated as "to spray," they describe different physical actions. Rociar usually implies sprinkling or covering a surface with drops, whereas pulverizar implies turning a liquid into a very fine mist or destroying a solid object into dust.
Rociar
B2This verb implies scattering or sprinkling liquid in drops over a surface. It is related to the word rocío (dew). It is used for actions like gentle watering, basting food, or even sprinkling solid particles like salt or sugar. It focuses on the action of covering something lightly.
El jardinero roció las flores con la manguera.
(The gardener sprayed the flowers with the hose.)
Antes de hornear, debes rociar el pollo con aceite de oliva.
(Before baking, you should baste (spray/sprinkle) the chicken with olive oil.)
Al sacerdote le gusta rociar agua bendita al final de la misa.
(The priest likes to sprinkle holy water at the end of the mass.)
Voy a rociar un poco de insecticida en las esquinas.
(I am going to spray a little insecticide in the corners.)
Puedes rociar azúcar glas sobre el pastel para decorarlo.
(You can sprinkle powdered sugar over the cake to decorate it.)
Pulverizar
C1Derived from the word polvo (dust), this verb technically means to atomize or turn something into powder. When referring to liquids, it means spraying them as a very fine mist or aerosol (high pressure). Metaphorically, it is frequently used to mean "to destroy completely" or "to smash" a record.
Necesitas pulverizar el perfume en tu muñeca, no frotarlo.
(You need to spray the perfume on your wrist, not rub it.)
Este aparato sirve para pulverizar pintura en las paredes.
(This device is used to spray (atomize) paint onto the walls.)
El corredor jamaicano pulverizó el récord mundial de los 100 metros.
(The Jamaican runner smashed (pulverized) the 100-meter world record.)
La máquina puede pulverizar rocas grandes y convertirlas en arena.
(The machine can pulverize large rocks and turn them into sand.)
Los agricultores usan aviones para pulverizar los cultivos con pesticidas.
(Farmers use planes to spray the crops with pesticides (as a fine mist).)
Summary
Use rociar when you are sprinkling, splashing, or gently covering a surface with liquid (or solids like sugar). Use pulverizar when the liquid is being forced out as a microscopic mist (like an aerosol can or perfume) or when you mean to completely destroy or crush something.