rescatar
“rescatar” means “to rescue” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to rescue
Also: to save
📝 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.
to recover / retrieve
Also: to bail out
📝 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.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: rescatar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'rescatar' in a financial context?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin prefix 're-' (again) and 'captare' (to try to catch or take), which evolved into the idea of 'taking back' something that was lost or in danger.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.