How to Say "to glimpse" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to glimpse” is “vislumbrar” — B2 level.
Examples
A través de la niebla, pude vislumbrar la silueta de un barco.
Through the fog, I could make out the silhouette of a ship.
Desde la cima, se vislumbran los pequeños pueblos del valle.
From the peak, you can catch a glimpse of the small villages in the valley.
Apenas logré vislumbrar su rostro antes de que se fuera.
I barely managed to catch a glimpse of his face before he left.
Using 'Poder'
This word is very often paired with the verb 'poder' (can/be able to) because it emphasizes the effort or difficulty of seeing something clearly.
Always Regular
Even though it looks fancy, this verb follows the standard rules for all verbs ending in -ar. No surprise spelling changes here!
Don't use for 'to see' everyday things
Mistake: “Vislumbro mis llaves en la mesa.”
Correction: Veo mis llaves en la mesa. Use 'vislumbrar' only when something is hard to see because of light, distance, or obstacles.
Related Translations
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