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bloquear

blo-keh-ahrblo.keˈaɾ

to block

Also: to ban
VerbA2regular ar
A large wooden barricade completely blocking a narrow cobblestone path.
gerundbloqueando
past Participlebloqueado
infinitivebloquear

📝 In Action

Un camión está bloqueando la calle principal.

A2

A truck is blocking the main street.

Voy a bloquear a mi ex en Instagram.

A2

I'm going to block my ex on Instagram.

Las nubes bloquean la luz del sol.

B1

The clouds block the sunlight.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • desbloquear (to unblock/unlock)
  • permitir (to allow)

Common Collocations

  • bloquear el paso – to block the way
  • bloquear un usuario – to block a user

to freeze

Also: to lock
VerbB1regular ar
A bright blue credit card encased inside a solid, translucent block of ice.
gerundbloqueando
past Participlebloqueado
infinitivebloquear

📝 In Action

Tuve que bloquear mi tarjeta porque la perdí.

B1

I had to block my card because I lost it.

El banco bloqueó mi cuenta por seguridad.

B1

The bank froze my account for security.

Si pones mal el PIN tres veces, el móvil se bloquea.

B1

If you enter the wrong PIN three times, the phone locks itself.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • congelar (to freeze (accounts))
  • inhabilitar (to disable)

Common Collocations

  • bloquear la tarjeta – to block the card
  • bloquear el acceso – to block access

to freeze up

Also: to get stuck
VerbB2regular ar
A person standing on a stage looking confused and still, with a large question mark floating in a thought bubble above them.
gerundbloqueando
past Participlebloqueado
infinitivebloquear

📝 In Action

Me bloqueé durante el examen y olvidé todo.

B2

I froze up during the exam and forgot everything.

No te bloquees, respira hondo.

B2

Don't freeze up, take a deep breath.

El escritor se bloqueó a mitad del capítulo.

C1

The writer got stuck halfway through the chapter.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • quedarse en blanco (to draw a blank)
  • paralizarse (to be paralyzed)

Idioms & Expressions

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yobloqueara
túbloquearas
él/ella/ustedbloqueara
nosotrosbloqueáramos
vosotrosbloquearais
ellos/ellas/ustedesbloquearan

Present Subjunctive

yobloquee
túbloquees
él/ella/ustedbloquee
nosotrosbloqueemos
vosotrosbloqueéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesbloqueen

Indicative

Preterite

yobloqueé
túbloqueaste
él/ella/ustedbloqueó
nosotrosbloqueamos
vosotrosbloqueasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesbloquearon

Imperfect

yobloqueaba
túbloqueabas
él/ella/ustedbloqueaba
nosotrosbloqueábamos
vosotrosbloqueabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesbloqueaban

Present

yobloqueo
túbloqueas
él/ella/ustedbloquea
nosotrosbloqueamos
vosotrosbloqueáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesbloquean
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "bloquear" in Spanish:

to ban→to block→to freeze→to lock→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: bloquear

Question 1 of 3

If you lose your credit card, what should you do?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the noun 'bloque' (block), which came to Spanish from the French word 'bloc', and likely had Germanic or Middle Dutch origins meaning a 'trunk' or 'stump'.

First recorded: 18th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: blockFrench: bloquer

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'bloquear' for a locked door?

Not usually. For a door locked with a key, use 'cerrar con llave'. Use 'bloquear' if you put a chair in front of the door to physically obstruct it.

Is 'bloquear' the same as 'impedir'?

'Bloquear' is a physical or digital stop. 'Impedir' is more general and means to prevent any action from happening.

How do I say 'unblock' someone?

Simply add 'des-' to the front: 'desbloquear'.