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"Agarrar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to grab", and "tocar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to touch". Learn more about the difference between "agarrar" and "tocar" below.
agarrar(
ah
-
gah
-
rrahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to grab
Lo agarró de la mano y siguieron por el camino de baldosas amarillas.She grabbed him by the hand, and they continued down the yellow-brick road.
c. to take hold of
El caballero agarró la espada y remató al dragón.The knight took hold of the sword and finished off the dragon.
d. to grip (with force)
Hay que agarrar bien el mango del martillo.You have to really grip the handle of the hammer.
e. to grasp (with force)
Extendió la mano para agarrar el Santo Grial.She reached out to grasp the Holy Grail.
f. to seize (by force)
La policía agarró las armas que encontraron en la casa.The police seized the arms they found in the house.
i. to hold
Agarraba una espada y me dijo que le entregara todo el oro que tuviera.He was holding a sword and told me to give him all the gold I had.
2. (to capture)
a. to catch
La gente del pueblo montaron en sus caballos y se marcharon para agarrar al ladrón.The townspeople got on their horses and left to catch the thief.
a. to get hold of
Si podemos agarrar el tesoro, seremos ricos.If we can get hold of the treasure, we'll be rich.
a. to get
Hablo bien español, pero a veces no agarro los chistes que cuenta la gente.I speak Spanish well, but sometimes I don't get the jokes that people tell.
5. (colloquial) (to become sick with)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to catch
El profesor le agarró con una chuleta en la manga.The teacher caught him with a cheat-sheet in his sleeve.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
8. (to go) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to take
Agarra por la primera calle y sube desde allí.Take the first right, and then go up from there.
b. to head
La familia agarró para el campo para pasar un día tranquilo allí.The family headed for the country to spend a relaxing day there.
c. to up (colloquial) (used with another verb)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Si no tratas un poco mejor a tu novia, va a agarrar e irse.If you don't treat your girlfriend better, she's going to up and leave.
9. (botany)
a. to take root
La planta no agarra si la tierra está demasiado suelta.The plant won't take root if the earth is too loose.
a. to grip
No me gustan tanto esas llantas porque no agarran en las curvas.I don't like these tires as much because they don't grip on the curves.
11. (color)
12. (to do something abruptly) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to up (used with another verb)
Agarró y se fue sin decir nada.He upped and left without saying anything.
agarrarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
13. (to clutch)
a. to hold on
El marinero se agarró al mástil con toda su fuerza.The sailor held on to the mast with all his might.
b. to grip
El gato se cayó después de agarrar la rama que se rompió.The cat fell after it gripped the broken branch.
a. to stick
Los huevos se agarraron a la sartén porque no le pusiste aceite.The eggs stuck to the pan because you didn't use oil.
15. (to get into a fight) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to have a fight
Esos dos muchachos van a agarrarse si alguien no los separa.Those two guys are going to have a fight if someone doesn't separate them.
16. (colloquial) (to become)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Se agarró a los deberes para no tener que lavar los platos.She used her homework as an excuse to not wash the dishes.
Te agarras a tu herida para evitar las tareas en casa.You use your injury to get out of chores around the house.
tocar(
toh
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to feel)
a. to touch
Puedes saber si tu bebé tiene fiebre tocando su frente.You can tell if your baby has a fever by touching her forehead.
5. (to broach)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
8. (to chime)
a. to ring
Las campanas de la iglesia tocan todos los domingos para llamar a los fieles a misa.The church bells ring every Sunday to call the faithful to mass.
9. (to tap)
a. to knock
Ana, alguien está tocando a la puerta. ¿Puedes ir a ver quién es, por favor? Yo estoy en la ducha.Ana, there's someone knocking at the door. Can you please go see who it is? I'm in the shower.
10. (to secure)
a. to win
No te lo vas a creer, pero nos ha tocado la lotería.You won't believe it, but we've won the lottery.
a. to be someone's turn
¿Quién va a lavar los platos? - Te toca a ti.Who's going to do the dishes? - It's your turn.
12. (to need to)
a. to have to
Mañana toca hacer la declaración de la renta. ¡Lo odio!I have to do my tax return tomorrow. I hate it!
tocarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to touch each other
Solo nos tocamos para estrecharnos la mano.We don't touch each other unless it's to shake hands.
