evacuar
“evacuar” means “to evacuate” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to evacuate
Also: to empty
📝 In Action
Tuvieron que evacuar el edificio por la alarma de incendio.
B1They had to evacuate the building because of the fire alarm.
Es urgente evacuar a los vecinos de la zona inundada.
B2It is urgent to evacuate the neighbors from the flooded area.
El herido fue evacuado en helicóptero al hospital más cercano.
B2The injured person was evacuated by helicopter to the nearest hospital.
to handle / to process
Also: to clear / to resolve
📝 In Action
El abogado debe evacuar el informe antes del lunes.
C1The lawyer must process the report before Monday.
Estamos aquí para evacuar cualquier duda que tengan.
C1We are here to clear any doubts you may have.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: evacuar
Question 1 of 3
Which of the following is correct for 'I evacuate'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'evacuare', which literally means 'to empty out' (e- + vacuus).
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'evacuar' only for emergencies?
Not exclusively. While it's most common for emergencies (fires, floods), it's also used in medicine (emptying the stomach) and in law (processing documents).
What is the difference between 'evacuar' and 'desalojar'?
They are very similar. 'Evacuar' sounds more technical or organized, while 'desalojar' is often used when authorities force people to leave a property.
How do you pronounce the 'ua' part?
It sounds like 'kwahr'. If you use the accent (evacúo), the 'u' and 'o' become two separate sounds (eh-bah-KOO-oh).