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sujetar

soo-heh-tar/suxeˈtaɾ/

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

to hold

Also: to grasp
VerbA2regular ar
A close-up of a hand firmly gripping the handle of a colorful umbrella.
gerundsujetando
past Participlesujetado
infinitivesujetar

📝 In Action

Por favor, sujeta esto un momento.

A1

Please, hold this for a moment.

Ella sujetaba el paraguas con fuerza por el viento.

A2

She was holding the umbrella tightly because of the wind.

Es difícil sujetar al bebé mientras escribo.

B1

It is difficult to hold the baby while I am writing.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • sujetar fuerte – to hold tight
  • sujetarse de – to hold onto (something)

to fasten

Also: to secure
VerbB1regular ar
A large metal paperclip fastening two pieces of colored paper together.
gerundsujetando
past Participlesujetado
infinitivesujetar

📝 In Action

Sujeta los papeles con un clip.

A2

Fasten the papers with a clip.

Necesitamos sujetar la estantería a la pared.

B1

We need to secure the bookshelf to the wall.

Sujeta bien la cuerda antes de bajar.

B2

Secure the rope well before going down.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • fijar (to fix/attach)
  • atacar (to bind (specifically for clothing))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • sujetar con pinzas – to hold with clips (or figuratively: to take with a grain of salt)
  • sujetar el pelo – to tie back hair

Idioms & Expressions

  • cogido con pinzas – unreliable or barely holding together

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedessujetaran
yosujetara
túsujetaras
vosotrossujetarais
nosotrossujetáramos
él/ella/ustedsujetara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedessujeten
yosujete
túsujetes
vosotrossujetéis
nosotrossujetemos
él/ella/ustedsujete

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedessujetaron
yosujeté
túsujetaste
vosotrossujetasteis
nosotrossujetamos
él/ella/ustedsujetó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedessujetaban
yosujetaba
túsujetabas
vosotrossujetabais
nosotrossujetábamos
él/ella/ustedsujetaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedessujetan
yosujeto
túsujetas
vosotrossujetáis
nosotrossujetamos
él/ella/ustedsujeta
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: sujetar

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'Hold the door' using 'sujetar'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
sujeción(fastening/grip) — Noun
sujetapapeles(paperclip) — Noun
sujetador(bra (Spain) or fastener) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'subiectare', which is a more intense version of 'subicere', meaning 'to place under' or 'to bring under control'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: subjectFrench: sujet

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'sujetar' mean 'subject' like a school subject?

No. While they share an ancient root, a school subject is 'asignatura' or 'materia'. 'Sujeto' can mean 'subject' in a sentence or a 'fellow/guy', but the verb 'sujetar' is purely about holding/fastening.

Is 'sujetador' used everywhere for 'bra'?

No, 'sujetador' is the common word in Spain. In many Latin American countries, they use 'brasier' or 'corpiño'.

Can 'sujetar' be used for holding a meeting?

No. To hold a meeting or an event, use the verb 'celebrar' or 'tener'.