Inklingo

How to Say "to remove" in Spanish

English → Spanish

sacar

/sah-KAR//saˈkaɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'sacar' for general removal, like taking something out of a container or a specific location.
A cartoon character taking a tied garbage bag out of a kitchen trash can, illustrating the concept of removing something from a container.

Examples

Saco las llaves de mi bolsillo.

I take the keys out of my pocket.

Por favor, saca la basura.

Please, take out the trash.

Voy al banco a sacar dinero.

I'm going to the bank to withdraw money.

The 'yo' form spelling change in the past

To keep the hard 'k' sound in the past tense, the letter 'c' changes to 'qu' before an 'e' in the 'yo' form. So, 'yo saco' (I take out) becomes 'yo saqué' (I took out). This happens with all verbs ending in '-car'.

`Sacar` vs. `Quitar`

Mistake: “Voy a sacar la mancha de mi camisa.”

Correction: Voy a quitar la mancha de mi camisa. Use `sacar` for taking something *out of* a container or space (like a pocket or a room). Use `quitar` for taking something *off of* a surface (like a stain from a shirt or a book from a table).

retirar

reh-tee-RAHR/re.tiˈɾaɾ/

verbA2general
Use 'retirar' when the action implies taking something away, often to put it elsewhere or to clear a space.
A cartoon hand is lifting a red block off a blue shelf, illustrating the action of removing an object.

Examples

Por favor, retira los vasos sucios de la mesa.

Please, remove the dirty glasses from the table.

La tienda tuvo que retirar el producto defectuoso.

The store had to recall the defective product.

¿Puedes retirar mi paquete de la oficina de correos?

Can you pick up my package from the post office?

Direct Action

When 'retirar' is used this way, it means you are actively taking something and moving it away from someone or something else.

Confusing with 'Quitar'

Mistake: “Quitar is often used for removing clothes or small items ('quitar la chaqueta'), while retirar is better for formal removal or taking something away entirely ('retirar el coche mal estacionado').”

Correction: Use 'retirar' when the action involves a formal withdrawal or a significant movement away from a location.

Sacar vs. Retirar

Learners often confuse 'sacar' and 'retirar' because both involve moving something. Remember that 'sacar' is more about extraction (taking out of), while 'retirar' focuses on taking away or withdrawing.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.