perseguir
“perseguir” means “to chase” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to chase, to pursue
Also: to run after
📝 In Action
El perro persiguió al gato hasta el tejado.
A2The dog chased the cat all the way to the roof.
La policía persigue al ladrón por las calles estrechas.
B1The police are pursuing the thief through the narrow streets.
to pursue, to seek
Also: to aspire to
📝 In Action
Ella persigue su sueño de ser escritora desde que era niña.
B2She has been pursuing her dream of being a writer since she was a child.
Si persigues la perfección, nunca la alcanzarás.
C1If you pursue perfection, you will never reach it.
to persecute, to harass
Also: to victimize
📝 In Action
El régimen persiguió a los disidentes políticos durante décadas.
C1The regime persecuted political dissidents for decades.
Ella siente que su jefe la persigue con tareas imposibles.
B2She feels that her boss is harassing her with impossible tasks.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
subjunctive
imperfect
present
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "perseguir" in Spanish:
to chase→to harass→to persecute→to pursue→to seek→to victimize→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: perseguir
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'perseguir' in the sense of 'going after a goal'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin *persequi*, which is a combination of *per-* (meaning 'through' or 'thoroughly') and *sequi* (meaning 'to follow'). This emphasizes the idea of following something completely or relentlessly, which explains both the meaning of 'chasing' and 'persecuting'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'perseguir' the same as 'seguir'?
No, they are related but different. 'Seguir' just means 'to follow' (like following instructions or walking behind someone). 'Perseguir' means 'to pursue' or 'to chase'—it implies trying to catch something or achieve something, usually with greater effort or speed.
How do I remember the stem change?
'Perseguir' is similar to 'pedir' (to ask/order). Both change their 'e' to 'i' when the stress falls on that part of the word (e.g., persigues, pides). Just remember that 'perseguir' also has the extra spelling trick in the 'yo' form (persigo) to keep the sound consistent.