huir
/oo-EER/
to flee
Huir (to flee) means running away from immediate danger.
huir(verb)
to flee
?to run away from danger
,to escape
?to get away
to bolt
?to run away suddenly
📝 In Action
Cuando vio el humo, el perro huyó de la casa.
B1When he saw the smoke, the dog fled the house.
Los ladrones huyeron de la escena antes de que llegara la policía.
B2The thieves escaped the scene before the police arrived.
¡Huye antes de que te atrapen!
B1Run away before they catch you!
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Y' Irregularity
This verb is tricky because the 'i' changes to a 'y' (huyo, huyes, huye) when it is next to a vowel sound, except in the 'we' and 'you all (Spain)' forms of the present tense.
Using 'de'
When saying what you are fleeing from, you almost always use the preposition 'de' (of/from), like 'huir de la ciudad' (to flee the city).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'Y'
Mistake: "Yo huio"
Correction: Yo huyo. Remember that 'i' becomes 'y' in the 'I' form of the present tense to help the word flow better.
⭐ Usage Tips
Pronunciation Aid
The 'h' is silent in Spanish, so the word sounds like 'weer.' The 'y' in the irregular forms sounds like the 'y' in 'yes' or 'yellow'.
Huir (to avoid) can also mean choosing to bypass a responsibility or difficult situation.
huir(verb)
to avoid
?abstract concept or responsibility
,to shun
?a person or situation
to shy away from
?a challenge or task
📝 In Action
Ella siempre huye de las responsabilidades difíciles.
B2She always avoids difficult responsibilities.
El famoso actor huye de la fama y la prensa.
C1The famous actor shuns fame and the press.
No puedes huir de tus problemas para siempre.
B2You can't run away from your problems forever.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
Even when used figuratively (avoiding abstract things), 'huir' still uses the preposition 'de' to indicate what is being avoided: 'huir de la verdad' (to avoid the truth).
⭐ Usage Tips
Intensity
While 'evitar' (to avoid) is general, 'huir' often implies a stronger, more definite action of running away from something, even if it's not physical.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: huir
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the 'yo' form of 'huir' in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'huir' sometimes use an 'i' and sometimes a 'y'?
This is an example of a common pattern in Spanish verbs like 'construir' (to build). The 'i' changes to a 'y' (huyo, huyó, huyen) whenever that vowel is unstressed and followed by another vowel, simply because it makes the sound flow more naturally in Spanish.
Is 'huir' transitive or intransitive?
'Huir' is typically used as an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't take a direct object. Instead, you almost always need the preposition 'de' (from) to specify what is being fled or avoided.