cazar
“cazar” means “to hunt” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to hunt
Also: to chase
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo solía cazar conejos en el bosque.
A2My grandfather used to hunt rabbits in the forest.
Van a cazar patos a la orilla del río.
B1They are going to hunt ducks on the riverbank.
to catch
Also: to trap, to spot/to detect
📝 In Action
La policía logró cazar al ladrón después de tres días.
B1The police managed to catch the thief after three days.
No pude cazar la señal de radio en esta montaña.
B2I couldn't catch (pick up) the radio signal on this mountain.
¡Te cacé mirando mi teléfono!
B1I caught you looking at my phone!
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cazar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cazar' in its figurative sense of 'catching a person or thing'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Vulgar Latin word *captiāre*, which meant 'to chase' or 'to try to capture.' It's related to the Latin word for 'to seize' or 'to take.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cazar' the same as 'atrapar'?
They are similar, but 'cazar' implies the act of pursuing or seeking something, like hunting, whereas 'atrapar' focuses more on the final act of physically trapping or seizing it.
Is 'cazar' only used for animals?
No. While its main literal meaning is 'to hunt animals,' it is commonly used figuratively to mean 'to catch' or 'to spot' people, criminals, lies, or good deals.