agarra
“agarra” means “grabs” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
grabs, holds
Also: catches, seizes
📝 In Action
Ella agarra el paraguas antes de salir.
A2She grabs the umbrella before leaving.
El bebé agarra mi dedo con mucha fuerza.
A2The baby holds my finger very tightly.
Usted agarra el ascensor en el segundo piso.
B1You (formal) catch the elevator on the second floor.
📝 In Action
¡Agarra el cable antes de que se caiga!
A1Grab the cable before it falls!
Agarra fuerte la bicicleta.
A2Hold the bicycle tightly.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: agarra
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'agarra' as a direct command?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Late Latin verb *aggrapāre*, which meant 'to grasp' or 'to seize,' related to Germanic roots referring to hooks and seizing actions. It has been used in Spanish since the Middle Ages.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'agarra' mean both 'he grabs' and 'Grab!'?
This is very common in Spanish verbs! The verb form used for describing what 'he/she/it' does (the third person singular present tense) is exactly the same form used for giving an informal command to 'tú' (you).
What is the difference between 'agarrar' and 'coger'?
'Agarrar' and 'coger' both mean 'to grab' or 'to take,' but 'coger' has a vulgar meaning (sexual intercourse) in much of Latin America, so 'agarrar' is a safer, universal choice for 'to take hold of' or 'to catch.'