rastreo
“rastreo” means “tracking” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
tracking
Also: search, screening, tracing
📝 In Action
El rastreo de mi paquete dice que llegará mañana.
A2The tracking for my package says it will arrive tomorrow.
La policía realizó un rastreo exhaustivo por el bosque.
B1The police carried out a thorough search through the forest.
El rastreo de contactos es vital para frenar la enfermedad.
B2Contact tracing is vital to stop the disease.
I track
Also: I trace
📝 In Action
Yo rastreo la señal desde mi computadora.
B1I track the signal from my computer.
Rastreo cada gasto que hago en mi libreta.
B1I trace every expense I make in my notebook.
Si rastreo el origen del problema, podré arreglarlo.
B2If I track the origin of the problem, I will be able to fix it.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: rastreo
Question 1 of 3
Which of these would you look for if you want to see where your Amazon package is?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the verb 'rastrear', which comes from 'rastro' (track/trail). This root comes from the Latin word 'rastrum', meaning a 'rake' or 'hoe', referring to the way one scrapes the ground to find signs or paths.
First recorded: 17th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'rastreo' the same as 'seguimiento'?
They are very similar. 'Rastreo' usually implies searching or finding a location (like GPS), while 'seguimiento' is broader and can mean 'follow-up' on a project or a medical case.
Can 'rastreo' refer to computer viruses?
Yes, an antivirus performs a 'rastreo' (scan) of your system to find threats.
How do I say 'tracking number' in Spanish?
The most common way is 'número de rastreo', though some countries use 'número de guía'.

