robar
/roh-BAHR/
to steal
The primary meaning of 'robar' is to steal, or taking something secretly.
robar(verb)
to steal
?taking something secretly
,to rob
?taking by force or from a place
to burgle
?entering a building illegally
📝 In Action
Alguien robó mi bicicleta del garaje anoche.
A2Someone stole my bike from the garage last night.
La policía atrapó al hombre que intentaba robar el banco.
B1The police caught the man who was trying to rob the bank.
No puedes robar ideas de otros escritores.
B1You can't steal ideas from other writers.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'A' after Robar
When you talk about robbing a person, you usually need to use the preposition 'a' before the person: 'Robaron a la señora' (They robbed the lady).
Robar vs. Quitar
Use 'robar' for actions that are illegal or permanent. Use 'quitar' when you remove or take something away temporarily, like 'quitar la tapa' (to take off the lid).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the Act and the Person
Mistake: "Robaron la señora."
Correction: Robaron a la señora. (When the person is the victim, use 'a'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Active vs. Passive Voice
Instead of saying 'The store was robbed' (passive), Spanish often prefers the 'se' impersonal structure: 'Se robó la tienda' (The store robbed itself, grammatically speaking, but meaning 'The store was robbed').
'Robar' can also be used figuratively to mean 'to capture,' as in capturing someone's attention or gaze.
robar(verb)
to capture
?to capture attention/a look
,to steal
?in sports, e.g., stealing a base
to charm
?to steal one's heart
,to hurry
?to steal a kiss/a few minutes
📝 In Action
Ella se robó el show con su actuación.
B2She stole the show with her performance.
El corredor intentó robar la segunda base.
B1The runner tried to steal second base.
Antes de irse, él me robó un beso rápido.
C1Before leaving, he quickly stole a kiss from me.
💡 Grammar Points
Reflexive Use: Robarse
When used to mean 'steal the show' or 'monopolize attention,' 'robar' is often used with 'se' (robarse), indicating the person actively took the focus for themselves.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Non-Criminal Acts
In this sense, 'robar' is often playful and expresses quick, almost sneaky actions, like taking a snack or a quick kiss when no one is looking.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: robar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'robar' in its core, criminal meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you distinguish between 'robar' (to rob) and 'atracar' (to hold up)?
'Robar' is the general term for theft, whether by force or stealth. 'Atracar' specifically means 'to hold up' or 'to mug,' usually implying violence or the threat of it, especially to rob a place like a bank.
Does 'robar' always refer to physical items?
No. While the primary meaning is physical theft, you can also 'robar' intangible things like time ('robar tiempo'), ideas ('robar ideas'), or attention ('robar la atención').