How to Say "captures" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “captures” is “come” — use 'come' when referring to something being consumed, deteriorated, or overcome, often in a figurative sense like rust on metal or a disease affecting someone..
come
KOH-meh/ˈko.me/
Examples
El moho come la pared mojada.
The mold consumes (eats away at) the wet wall.
El óxido come el metal del coche.
The rust corrodes (eats away at) the metal of the car.
Si la torre come el peón, pierdes la partida de ajedrez.
If the rook captures the pawn, you lose the chess game.
Context is Key
The specific meaning ('corrodes' vs. 'captures') is entirely dependent on the subject: if the subject is acid or rust, it means corrosion; if the subject is a chess piece, it means capturing.
detiene
/de-TYEH-neh//deˈtjene/
Examples
La noticia impactante detiene a los transeúntes en la calle.
The shocking news captures (stops) the passersby on the street.
La obra de arte detiene la mirada de todos los visitantes.
The artwork captures the gaze of all the visitors.
Ella detiene su respiración antes de saltar.
She holds her breath before jumping.
Figurative Use
In this context, 'detiene' is used figuratively, often with intangible things like 'gaze,' 'attention,' or 'breath,' meaning to pause or fix them.
Distinguishing Between Consumption and Attention
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.