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How to Say "to stash" in Spanish

English → Spanish

esconder

ess-kohn-DEHR/es.konˈdeɾ/

verbA1informal
Use 'esconder' for general, informal hiding of items or people, especially when you want to keep something secret from view.
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-TAHR//o.kulˈtaɾ/

verbA2informal
Choose 'ocultar' when 'stashing' money, important documents, or valuables, often implying a more deliberate or secretive act.
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.

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.)

General Hiding vs. Secretive Stashing

Learners often confuse 'esconder' and 'ocultar' by using them interchangeably. Remember that 'ocultar' carries a stronger sense of deliberate concealment, particularly for valuable items or information, while 'esconder' is a more casual, everyday term for hiding things.

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