torturar

tor-too-RAHRtoɾtuˈɾaɾ

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

to torture🔊B2Verb

inflicting physical or mental pain

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to torment🔊B1Verb

mental anguish or guilt

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to torture

Also: to rack

VerbB2regular ar

A sad character sitting in a dark room with a single spotlight, looking physically exhausted and distressed.

gerundtorturando

past Participletorturado

infinitivetorturar

📝 In Action

Muchos prisioneros fueron torturados durante la guerra.

Many prisoners were tortured during the war.

Es ilegal torturar a cualquier persona bajo cualquier circunstancia.

It is illegal to torture anyone under any circumstances.

La policía no puede torturar a los sospechosos para obtener información.

The police cannot torture suspects to get information.

Word Connections

Synonyms

martirizar (to martyrize/torment)
atormentar (to torment)

Antonyms

aliviar (to relieve)
consolar (to comfort)

Common Collocations

torturar psicológicamente – to torture psychologically
métodos para torturar – torture methods

to torment

Also: to worry sick

VerbB1regular ar

A character holding their head in their hands with dark, swirling clouds hovering closely above them.

gerundtorturando

past Participletorturado

infinitivetorturar

📝 In Action

No te tortures más por lo que pasó.

Don't torment yourself anymore over what happened.

Me tortura la duda de si tomé la decisión correcta.

The doubt of whether I made the right decision is tormenting me.

Ese ruido me está torturando, no puedo concentrarme.

That noise is torturing me, I can't concentrate.

Word Connections

Synonyms

angustiar (to distress)
preocupar (to worry)

Idioms & Expressions

torturarse la cabeza – to overthink something until it causes stress

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yotorturara

tútorturaras

él/ella/ustedtorturara

nosotrostorturáramos

vosotrostorturarais

ellos/ellas/ustedestorturaran

Present Subjunctive

yotorture

tútortures

él/ella/ustedtorture

nosotrostorturemos

vosotrostorturéis

ellos/ellas/ustedestorturen

Indicative

Preterite

yotorturé

tútorturaste

él/ella/ustedtorturó

nosotrostorturamos

vosotrostorturasteis

ellos/ellas/ustedestorturaron

Imperfect

yotorturaba

tútorturabas

él/ella/ustedtorturaba

nosotrostorturábamos

vosotrostorturabais

ellos/ellas/ustedestorturaban

Present

yotorturo

tútorturas

él/ella/ustedtortura

nosotrostorturamos

vosotrostorturáis

ellos/ellas/ustedestorturan

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Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "torturar" in Spanish:

to rack→to torment→to torture→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: torturar

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence means 'Don't overthink it'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

tortura(torture) — Noun

torturador(torturer) — Noun

tortuoso(tortuous / twisting) — Adjective

🎵 Rhymes▼

amar cantar olvidar

📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'torturare', which comes from 'torquere' (to twist). It originally referred to the twisting of limbs to cause pain.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: tortureFrench: torturerItalian: torturare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'torturar' used for minor things like a mosquito bite?

Usually no. Use 'molestar' (to annoy) or 'picar' (to sting/itch). 'Torturar' is reserved for serious suffering or intense emotional worry.

Is it a regular verb?

Yes! It follows the standard -ar conjugation rules in all tenses, so if you know how to conjugate 'hablar', you know 'torturar'.

Can I use 'torturar' for a 'tortuous' road?

No. For a road with many twists and turns, use the adjective 'tortuoso' (e.g., 'un camino tortuoso'). 'Torturar' is only the action of causing pain.