rescatar
/re-ska-TAR/
to rescue
Rescatar: To rescue a life from danger.
rescatar(verb)
to rescue
?saving a person or animal from danger
to save
?getting someone out of a risky situation
📝 In Action
Los bomberos lograron rescatar al niño del edificio.
A2The firefighters managed to rescue the boy from the building.
Necesitamos rescatar a los excursionistas que se perdieron.
B1We need to rescue the hikers who got lost.
💡 Grammar Points
Using the 'Personal A'
Since you are usually rescuing a person or a pet, you must use 'a' before them. Example: 'Rescatar a María' (Rescue Maria).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Rescatar vs. Salvar
Mistake: "Using 'rescatar' for saving a file on a computer."
Correction: Use 'guardar' for files. 'Rescatar' implies pulling someone out of a dangerous physical place.
⭐ Usage Tips
Action vs. Result
Use 'rescatar' when you want to emphasize the action of physically going in to get someone out.
Rescatar: To recover or retrieve a lost object.
rescatar(verb)
to recover / retrieve
?getting back something lost or damaged
to bail out
?financial rescue of a company or bank
📝 In Action
Pudimos rescatar algunos muebles del incendio.
B1We were able to recover some furniture from the fire.
El Fondo Monetario rescató la economía del país.
C1The Monetary Fund bailed out the country's economy.
💡 Grammar Points
Bailouts and Business
In financial contexts, 'rescatar' is used just like 'to bail out' in English, showing that money is being used to save a failing entity.
⭐ Usage Tips
Metaphorical Use
You can use 'rescatar' for abstract things like memories or traditions that were almost forgotten.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: rescatar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'rescatar' in a financial context?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'rescatar' used for saving computer files?
No, for saving work on a computer, use the word 'guardar'. 'Rescatar' is for saving lives or recovering things from danger.
What is the difference between 'salvar' and 'rescatar'?
They are very similar. 'Salvar' is broad (saving a soul, a goal, or a life), while 'rescatar' specifically implies getting someone *out* of a trapped or dangerous location.