atrapó
“atrapó” means “caught” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
caught
Also: captured, trapped
📝 In Action
El jugador atrapó la pelota con una mano.
A2The player caught the ball with one hand.
La policía atrapó al ladrón en el callejón.
A2The police caught the thief in the alley.
hooked
Also: captivated, fascinated
📝 In Action
Ese libro me atrapó desde la primera página.
B1That book hooked me from the first page.
Su carisma atrapó a toda la audiencia.
B1His charisma captivated the whole audience.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: atrapó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'atrapó' to mean 'he caught the ball'?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from 'trampa' (trap), which comes from a Germanic word meaning 'to step' or 'to tread.' It implies setting a trap that someone steps into.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'atrapó' always mean physical catching?
No! It can also mean that a story, a song, or a person's personality totally grabbed your attention or 'hooked' you.
Can I use 'atrapó' for 'I caught a cold'?
You can, but it sounds a bit dramatic. Most Spanish speakers would use 'me resfrié' or 'cogí un resfriado' instead.