trepar
“trepar” means “to climb” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to climb
Also: to scale
📝 In Action
El gato puede trepar el árbol muy rápido.
A1The cat can climb the tree very fast.
De niño me gustaba trepar por las rocas.
B1As a child, I liked to climb over the rocks.
Los excursionistas tuvieron que trepar una pared de piedra.
B2The hikers had to scale a stone wall.
to climb the ladder
Also: to be a social climber
📝 In Action
Él hará cualquier cosa por trepar en la empresa.
B2He will do anything to climb the ladder in the company.
No confío en ella, es una persona que solo busca trepar.
C1I don't trust her; she's just a social climber.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: trepar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence describes someone physically climbing using their hands?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From an old Germanic word 'trippōn' which meant to hop or jump. It eventually evolved in Spanish to describe the act of moving upward using your limbs.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'subir' and 'trepar'?
'Subir' is a general word for going up (stairs, a hill, an elevator). 'Trepar' specifically means climbing using your hands and feet, like a cat or a mountain climber.
Can I use 'trepar' for a ladder?
Yes, although 'subir por la escalera' is more common, 'trepar' emphasizes the physical act of the climb.
Is 'trepar' a regular verb?
Yes! It follows the standard rules for all '-ar' verbs in Spanish, which makes it very easy to conjugate.