atraparlo
“atraparlo” means “to catch him/it” in Spanish (physical action of grabbing something in motion).
to catch him/it
Also: to trap him/it, to snag it
📝 In Action
El perro vio el juguete y corrió para atraparlo.
A1The dog saw the toy and ran to catch it.
Si el ladrón escapa, la policía intentará atraparlo.
A2If the thief escapes, the police will try to catch him.
Lanzó la pelota muy alto, pero logré atraparlo.
B1He threw the ball very high, but I managed to catch it.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: atraparlo
Question 1 of 2
What does the 'lo' in 'atraparlo' refer to?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Spanish word 'trapo' (rag/cloth), referring to the historical use of cloths or nets to snag or catch something.
First recorded: 16th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'atraparlo' mean 'to understand'?
While 'atrapar' usually means physical catching, it can occasionally mean 'to grasp' an idea, though 'entender' or 'captar' are much more common for that context.
When should I use 'atraparla' instead?
Use 'atraparla' if the thing you are catching is a feminine noun, like 'la mariposa' (the butterfly) or 'la idea' (the idea).