arrancar
/ah-rrahn-KAHR/
to start
The car starts its engine and begins to move.
arrancar(verb)
to start
?engines, vehicles, or machines
to boot up
?computers or software
📝 In Action
El coche no quiere arrancar en las mañanas frías.
A2The car doesn't want to start on cold mornings.
Espera un momento, el ordenador está arrancando.
B1Wait a moment, the computer is booting up.
💡 Grammar Points
Spelling Change Alert
In the 'I' form of the past tense (Preterite), the 'c' changes to 'qu' (arranqué). This ensures the word still has a hard 'k' sound.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Avoid 'arrancé'
Mistake: "Escribí 'arrancé' ayer."
Correction: Escribí 'arranqué' ayer. We use 'qu' to keep the hard 'c' sound before the letter 'e'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Machines vs. People
Use 'arrancar' for engines and 'empezar' for general activities, though they overlap when things 'get going' suddenly.
Pulling a weed out of the ground with force.
arrancar(verb)
to pull out
?removing something with force
to uproot
?plants or trees
,to tear off
?posters or paper
📝 In Action
Tienes que arrancar la mala hierba de raíz.
B1You have to pull out the weeds by the root.
Arrancó una hoja de su cuaderno para escribir una nota.
B1He tore a page out of his notebook to write a note.
💡 Grammar Points
Forcefulness
This word implies a bit of force or energy. Use it when something is being removed with a tug or a pull.
Snatching an object away suddenly.
arrancar(verb)
to snatch
?taking something away suddenly
to draw out
?extracting a response like a smile or a secret
📝 In Action
Logró arrancarle un secreto a su amigo.
B2He managed to draw a secret out of his friend.
Su chiste le arrancó una carcajada a todo el mundo.
B2His joke drew a loud laugh from everyone.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Le'
When you snatch or draw something FROM someone, we often use the word 'le' (to him/her). For example: 'Le arrancó el juguete' (He snatched the toy from her).
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: arrancar
Question 1 of 2
Which of these is the correct 'I' form for the past tense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'arrancar' and 'empezar'?
'Empezar' is a general word for 'to start' (like starting a book or a movie). 'Arrancar' is more physical or mechanical—like starting an engine or literally pulling something out of the ground.
Can I use 'arrancar' for a computer?
Yes! In the tech world, 'arrancar' is used for booting up a computer or starting an application.