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pisar

pee-SAHR/piˈsaɾ/

“pisar” means “to step on” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to step on

Also: to tread, to stomp
VerbA2regular ar
Spain
A child's sneaker stepping directly onto a bright green leaf on a sidewalk.
gerundpisando
past Participlepisado
infinitivepisar

📝 In Action

Ten cuidado, no pises el césped recién cortado.

A2

Be careful, don't step on the freshly cut grass.

Pisé un chicle y ahora mi zapato está pegajoso.

B1

I stepped on some gum and now my shoe is sticky.

Es la primera vez que pisa suelo español.

B2

It is the first time he has set foot on Spanish soil.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • hollar (to tread upon (formal))
  • caminar (to walk)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • pisar fuerte – to step firmly / to make a strong impression
  • pisar tierra – to touch ground
  • sin pisar – untrodden / without stepping on

Idioms & Expressions

  • pisar los talones – To be right behind someone or following them closely
  • no saber ni qué suelo pisa – To be completely lost or disconnected from reality

to press down

Also: to floor it
A foot wearing a shoe pressing down on a car's gas pedal.

📝 In Action

¡Pisa el acelerador que vamos a llegar tarde!

B1

Floor the accelerator, we're going to be late!

Tienes que pisar el freno suavemente.

B1

You have to press the brake gently.

Para cambiar de marcha, pisa el embrague a fondo.

B2

To change gears, press the clutch all the way down.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • pisar el freno – to hit the brakes
  • pisar a fondo – to press all the way down

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedespisaran
yopisara
túpisaras
vosotrospisarais
nosotrospisáramos
él/ella/ustedpisara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedespisen
yopise
túpises
vosotrospiséis
nosotrospisemos
él/ella/ustedpise

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedespisaron
yopisé
túpisaste
vosotrospisasteis
nosotrospisamos
él/ella/ustedpisó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedespisaban
yopisaba
túpisabas
vosotrospisabais
nosotrospisábamos
él/ella/ustedpisaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedespisan
yopiso
túpisas
vosotrospisáis
nosotrospisamos
él/ella/ustedpisa
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pisar" in Spanish:

to stomp→to tread→

🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pisar

Question 1 of 3

If you are driving and need to stop suddenly, what do you do?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
piso(floor / apartment) — Noun
pisada(footprint / footstep) — Noun
pisotón(a heavy stomp on the foot) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'pīnsāre', which meant to beat, pound, or crush. This reflects the original use of the word for crushing grapes or grain by stepping on them.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: pestareFrench: piser

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'pisar' and 'piso'?

'Pisar' is the action (to step), while 'piso' is either the noun (floor/apartment) or the 'I' form of the verb (I step).

Can 'pisar' be used for stepping on someone's feelings?

Yes! Figuratively, 'pisar' can mean to humble someone or treat them with contempt, often used as 'pisotear'.

Do I use 'a' with 'pisar' when stepping on a person?

Yes, if you step on a person literally or figuratively, use the 'personal a': 'Pisé a Juan sin querer' (I stepped on Juan by accident).