capturar
“capturar” means “to capture” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to capture, to seize
Also: to arrest, to catch
📝 In Action
La policía logró capturar al ladrón después de una persecución.
A2The police managed to capture the thief after a chase.
El equipo de científicos fue a la selva para capturar ranas raras.
B1The team of scientists went to the jungle to catch rare frogs.
to capture, to screenshot
Also: to log, to obtain
📝 In Action
Necesito capturar la pantalla para mostrarte el error.
B1I need to capture the screen (take a screenshot) to show you the error.
El sistema está diseñado para capturar automáticamente la información de cada usuario.
B2The system is designed to automatically capture the information of every user.
to capture, to convey
Also: to grasp
📝 In Action
La novela logra capturar la tristeza de esa época de manera brillante.
B2The novel manages to capture the sadness of that era brilliantly.
Su discurso capturó inmediatamente la atención del público.
C1His speech immediately captured the audience's attention.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
preterite
present
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "capturar" in Spanish:
to arrest→to capture→to catch→to convey→to grasp→to log→to obtain→to screenshot→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: capturar
Question 1 of 2
Which translation of 'capturar' best fits the sentence: 'La fotógrafa supo capturar la luz perfecta del amanecer'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *capturare*, which meant 'to seize' or 'to take,' derived from *capere* (to take/hold). The meaning has stayed very consistent over time.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'capturar' y 'atrapar'?
Both mean 'to catch,' but 'capturar' is often used for deliberate, strategic seizure (like arresting a person or recording data), while 'atrapar' is more commonly used for physical catching, like catching a ball or catching a cold.
Can I use 'capturar' when talking about screen recording a video?
Yes, absolutely. In modern Spanish, 'capturar la pantalla' is the standard phrase for taking a screenshot, and it can also refer to recording video or data from a screen.