cazar
/kah-SAHR/
to hunt
The primary meaning of cazar is 'to hunt,' often involving the pursuit of wild animals.
cazar(verb)
to hunt
?pursuing wild animals
to chase
?the pursuit itself
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The Z-C Spelling Change
In Spanish, the letter 'z' can never be followed by 'e' or 'i'. When conjugating 'cazar', the 'z' changes to 'c' in the first-person preterite ('yo cacé') and throughout the present subjunctive ('cace', 'caces', etc.).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Z/C Change
Mistake: "Yo cazé (incorrect spelling)"
Correction: Yo cacé (The 'z' must change to 'c' before the 'e' ending.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Past Participle
The past participle 'cazado' is used to form perfect tenses: 'Hemos cazado un buen trato' (We have caught a good deal).
Cazar can also mean 'to catch' or intercept something, whether it is an object, a person, or even a signal.
cazar(verb)
to catch
?a person, a signal, a lie
to trap
?setting a trap for a person or idea
,to spot/to detect
?seeing something quickly or subtly
📝 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!
💡 Grammar Points
Cazar vs. Atrapar
While both mean 'to catch,' 'cazar' often implies a process of pursuit or detection (like hunting), whereas 'atrapar' usually means physically grabbing or confining something.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use with Media
Use 'cazar' when talking about picking up faint or difficult-to-find signals, like radio waves, Wi-Fi, or distant broadcasts.
🔄 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
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.