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How to Say "to conceal" in Spanish

English → Spanish

esconder

ess-kohn-DEHRes.konˈdeɾ

VerbA1General
Use this for physically hiding an object or a secret, often with the intention that it remains undiscovered.
A small, colorful toy shovel is tucked out of sight beneath a stack of three large, striped beach towels on a sandy beach.

Examples

Escondí el regalo para que nadie lo viera antes de la fiesta.

I hid the present so that no one would see it before the party.

Ella siempre esconde sus sentimientos detrás de una sonrisa.

She always conceals her feelings behind a smile.

¿Dónde escondiste las llaves del coche?

Where did you hide the car keys?

Requires an Object

When used transitively, 'esconder' must be followed by what is being hidden (the direct object). You can't just say 'Yo escondo' without saying what.

ocultar

oh-kool-TAHRo.kulˈtaɾ

verbA2General
This is a general-purpose verb for hiding anything, from physical objects to information, truths, or feelings.
A simple illustration showing a pair of hands hiding a small red ball behind a large green bush.

Examples

Ella ocultó las llaves debajo del felpudo.

She hid the keys under the doormat.

El sol se ocultó tras las montañas al anochecer.

The sun hid (set) behind the mountains at dusk.

Intentó ocultar su tristeza con una sonrisa falsa.

He tried to conceal his sadness with a fake smile.

El político ocultó los detalles de la reunión a la prensa.

The politician concealed the details of the meeting from the press.

Using the Reflexive Form

When the subject is hiding itself (like 'I hid myself'), you must use the reflexive form: 'ocultarse'. For example, 'Me oculté en el armario' (I hid in the closet).

Hiding Yourself

Mistake: “Yo oculté en el armario.”

Correction: Yo me oculté en el armario. (The action must reflect back onto the person doing the hiding.)

disimular

dee-see-moo-LAHRdisimuˈlaɾ

verbB1General
Use this when trying to hide or disguise something noticeable, like a physical defect or an emotional state, often by pretending.
A child hiding a mischievous smile behind their hand while sitting at a dinner table.

Examples

Ella intentó disimular su tristeza con una sonrisa.

She tried to hide her sadness with a smile.

Usa maquillaje para disimular la cicatriz.

She uses makeup to conceal the scar.

No puedes disimular que estás enojado conmigo.

You can't hide the fact that you are angry with me.

Using 'disimular' with 'que'

When you want to say someone is hiding the fact that something is happening, use 'disimular que' followed by a normal sentence. For example: 'Disimula que tiene miedo' (He hides that he is afraid).

It's completely regular

Good news! This verb follows the standard pattern for all '-ar' verbs in every tense, so you don't have to worry about weird spelling changes.

Disimular vs. Esconder

Mistake: “Using 'disimular' when you physically put an object inside a box.”

Correction: Use 'esconder' for physical objects you hide from sight. Use 'disimular' when you are trying to make something look different or less noticeable, like a stain on your shirt.

encubrir

en-koo-BREERen.kuˈβɾiɾ

verbB2General
This implies actively keeping something secret or out of sight, often to protect someone or something, or to cover up a wrongdoing.
A child hiding a small wooden toy box under a thick green blanket on a wooden floor.

Examples

Ella intentó encubrir su tristeza con una gran sonrisa.

She tried to hide her sadness with a big smile.

La densa niebla encubría el valle por completo.

The thick fog concealed the valley completely.

Es difícil encubrir la falta de experiencia en este trabajo.

It's hard to mask the lack of experience in this job.

A special 'done' form

Even though the rest of the verb is regular, the 'past participle' (the form used for things like 'I have hidden') is 'encubierto,' not 'encubrido.'

Action vs. Result

Use 'encubrir' for the active process of trying to hide something, especially something that shouldn't be hidden.

Using the wrong participle

Mistake: “He encubrido la verdad.”

Correction: He encubierto la verdad. (The word 'encubrir' follows the pattern of 'cubrir,' which uses 'cubierto').

Choosing between hiding feelings and hiding objects

Learners often confuse 'esconder' and 'ocultar' with 'disimular' or 'encubrir'. Remember that 'esconder' and 'ocultar' are more about the act of putting something out of sight, while 'disimular' and 'encubrir' often involve a deliberate effort to disguise or cover up, especially emotions or actions.

Related Translations

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