How to Say "to steal" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to steal” is “robar” — use 'robar' when referring to the act of taking someone's property without permission, or in sports to describe a specific play like stealing a base or the show.
robar
roh-BAHRroˈβaɾ
Examples
El ladrón intentó robar el dinero de la caja fuerte.
The thief tried to steal the money from the safe.
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).
Reflexive Use: Robarse
When used to mean 'steal the show' or 'monopolize attention,' 'robar' is often used with 'se' (robarse), indicating the person actively took the focus for themselves.
Confusing the Act and the Person
Mistake: “Robaron la señora.”
Correction: Robaron a la señora. (When the person is the victim, use 'a'.)
robar
Examples
La actuación del telonero fue tan buena que se robó el show.
The opening act's performance was so good that it stole the show.
acaparar
ah-kah-pah-rahraka.paˈɾaɾ
Examples
Él siempre acapara toda la conversación en las reuniones.
He always hogs all the conversation in meetings.
Ella siempre intenta acaparar la atención en las fiestas.
She always tries to hog the attention at parties.
Siento acaparar la palabra, pero tengo algo importante que decir.
I'm sorry for hogging the floor, but I have something important to say.
La película acaparó todos los premios de la noche.
The movie swept (hogged) all the awards that night.
Used with 'la palabra'
When someone is talking too much and not letting others speak, use the phrase 'acaparar la palabra'.
Don't confuse with 'alcanzar'
Mistake: “Él quiere acaparar el éxito.”
Correction: While you can say this, it implies he is keeping the success only for himself. If you just mean he 'reaches' success, use 'alcanzar'.
Robar vs. Acaparar
Related Translations
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