How to Say "to rob" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to rob” is “robar” — use 'robar' for the general act of stealing or taking something that doesn't belong to you, especially from a place or without direct confrontation.
robar
roh-BAHRroˈβaɾ
Examples
Alguien robó mi bicicleta del garaje anoche.
Someone stole my bike from the garage last night.
La policía atrapó al hombre que intentaba robar el banco.
The police caught the man who was trying to rob the bank.
No puedes robar ideas de otros escritores.
You can't steal ideas from other writers.
Using 'A' after Robar
When you talk about robbing a person, you usually need to use the preposition 'a' before the person: 'Robaron a la señora' (They robbed the lady).
Robar vs. Quitar
Use 'robar' for actions that are illegal or permanent. Use 'quitar' when you remove or take something away temporarily, like 'quitar la tapa' (to take off the lid).
Confusing the Act and the Person
Mistake: “Robaron la señora.”
Correction: Robaron a la señora. (When the person is the victim, use 'a'.)
asaltar
ah-sahl-TAHRasalˈtaɾ
Examples
Lo asaltaron justo cuando salía del banco.
They robbed him just as he was leaving the bank.
Es peligroso caminar por esa calle de noche porque te pueden asaltar.
It is dangerous to walk down that street at night because you could get mugged.
Dos hombres armados intentaron asaltar la joyería.
Two armed men tried to rob the jewelry store.
Using 'a' with people
When you use 'asaltar' to describe robbing a specific person, you must use the word 'a' before their name or the description of the person (e.g., 'Asaltaron a María').
Sudden Action
This verb describes an action that is usually quick and unexpected, unlike 'robar' which can mean stealing secretly over time.
Asaltar vs. Robar
Mistake: “Me asaltaron el reloj.”
Correction: Me robaron el reloj (o) Me asaltaron para quitarme el reloj.
atracar
ah-trah-KARatɾaˈkaɾ
Examples
Dos hombres intentaron atracar el banco central.
Two men tried to rob the central bank.
Me atracaron a punta de navaja en el parque.
I was mugged at knifepoint in the park.
La policía detuvo al ladrón antes de que pudiera atracar a nadie.
The police caught the thief before he could rob anyone.
The 'c' to 'qu' Spelling Swap
In forms where the ending starts with an 'e' (like the past 'yo' form), the 'c' changes to 'qu' so it still sounds like a hard 'K' (atraqué).
Atracar vs. Robar
Use 'atracar' when someone is confronted or force is used. Use 'robar' for general stealing, like a pickpocket or someone taking a bike.
Spelling Error in Past Tense
Mistake: “Yo atracé.”
Correction: Yo atraqué. In Spanish, 'ce' sounds like an 's' or 'th', so we need the 'qu' to keep the original sound of the word.
despojar
des-po-HARdespoˈxaɾ
Examples
El dictador decidió despojar al pueblo de sus derechos básicos.
The dictator decided to strip the people of their basic rights.
Fue despojado de todas sus pertenencias durante el asalto.
He was stripped of all his belongings during the robbery.
La ley no puede despojar a un ciudadano de su nacionalidad.
The law cannot deprive a citizen of their nationality.
Using the word 'de'
In Spanish, when you want to say WHAT was taken away, you must follow this verb with the word 'de'. For example, 'lo despojaron DE su reloj' (they stripped him OF his watch).
Focus on the Person
This verb focuses on the person who loses something. The person receiving the action is the main focus, while the object taken is introduced by 'de'.
Forgetting the 'de'
Mistake: “Despojar su dinero.”
Correction: Despojarlo DE su dinero. You need the 'de' to link the action to the item being taken.
General vs. Violent Robbery
Related Translations
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