cavar
/kah-BAHR/
to dig
Cavar can mean to dig a hole in the ground.
cavar(verb)
to dig
?making a hole in the ground
to excavate
?more formal or archaeological digging
📝 In Action
El perro empezó a cavar un hoyo para esconder su hueso.
A2The dog started to dig a hole to hide his bone.
Tuvimos que cavar mucho para encontrar la tubería.
B1We had to dig a lot to find the pipe.
💡 Grammar Points
A Friendly Regular Verb
Cavar is a regular -ar verb. It follows the exact same pattern as 'hablar' or 'cantar', so if you know those, you already know how to use this one!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Cavar vs. Clavar
Mistake: "Using 'clavar' when you mean to dig."
Correction: Use 'cavar' for the ground/holes and 'clavar' for hitting a nail with a hammer.
⭐ Usage Tips
Tools for the Job
In Spanish, you usually 'cavar con una pala' (dig with a shovel). It's a great way to remember the noun 'pala'!
Cavar also refers to hoeing or turning over soil around plants.
cavar(verb)
to hoe
?turning over soil around plants
to till
?preparing soil for planting
📝 In Action
Es necesario cavar las vides en primavera.
B2It is necessary to hoe the vines in spring.
💡 Grammar Points
Context is Key
While 'cavar' usually means making a hole, in a vineyard or garden, it specifically refers to turning the soil to help plants grow.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
present
imperfect
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cavar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'cavar' to mean 'to dig a hole'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cavar' an irregular verb?
No, 'cavar' is a perfectly regular -ar verb. It follows all the standard rules for conjugation.
What is the difference between 'cavar' and 'excavar'?
'Cavar' is the general word for digging (like a dog or a gardener). 'Excavar' is usually more formal, used for construction or archaeology.