infiltrar
“infiltrar” means “to infiltrate” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to infiltrate
Also: to sneak in, to plant
📝 In Action
La policía logró infiltrar a un agente en la banda.
B2The police managed to plant an agent in the gang.
El espía se infiltró en la base enemiga sin ser visto.
B2The spy sneaked into the enemy base without being seen.
Es casi imposible infiltrar una organización tan secreta.
C1It is almost impossible to infiltrate such a secret organization.
to seep in
Also: to permeate, to inject
📝 In Action
El agua se infiltra por las grietas de la pared.
B2The water seeps in through the cracks in the wall.
El médico decidió infiltrar la rodilla para calmar el dolor.
C1The doctor decided to give an injection in the knee to calm the pain.
La humedad se ha infiltrado en toda la estructura.
C1Moisture has permeated the entire structure.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: infiltrar
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'I sneaked into the party'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the prefix 'in-' (into) and the Latin 'filtrum' (felt, used for straining liquids).
First recorded: 17th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'filtrar' and 'infiltrar'?
'Filtrar' is usually used for filtering a liquid (like coffee) or for leaking information to the press. 'Infiltrar' is for entering a place or group secretly.
Is 'infiltrar' always negative?
Not necessarily. While often used for spies or gangs, it can also be a medical term for giving an injection or a neutral term for water seeping into the ground.
Can I use it for social situations?
Yes! You can say you 'sneaked into' a VIP area or a wedding using 'se infiltró'.