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"Arrebatar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to snatch", and "quitar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to remove". Learn more about the difference between "arrebatar" and "quitar" below.
arrebatar(
ah
-
rreh
-
bah
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to snatch
El ladrón trató de arrebatarle la cartera a María, pero esta no se dejó.The thief tried to snatch Maria's purse, but she didn't let him.
Cuando Sarah se dio cuenta de que Joe estaba revisando sus mensajes de texto, le arrebató el celular de las manos.When Sarah noticed that Joe was checking her text messages, she snatched the phone from his hands.
2. (to stir)
a. to captivate
Iba caminando por el centro cuando un guitarrista me arrebató con su música.I was walking downtown when I was captivated by a guitarist's music.
arrebatarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to become furious
Se arrebató y empezó a gritar cuando le dijeron que no le iban a devolver el dinero.He became furious and began to shout when they told him they wouldn't refund his money.
b. to get worked up
Raúl no se puede controlar. Siempre se arrebata por lo más mínimo.Raul can't control himself. He always gets worked up over the smallest things.
c. to get carried away
Marcos se arrebató con su comportamiento perturbador y el maestro lo echó del salón.Marcos got carried away with his disruptive behavior and his teacher kicked him out of class.
4. (culinary)
a. to burn on the outside
Se arrebató la carne. ¡Qué lástima!The meat burned on the outside. What a shame!
quitar(
kee
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
2. (to grab)
a. to take away
Le quité la carta que le había escrito.I took the letter I had written away from him.
3. (to ease)
b. to take away
Le dieron morfina para quitar el dolor que sufrió después del accidente.They gave him morphine to take away the pain he suffered after the accident.
4. (to consume)
5. (to exclude)
a. except for
Quitando las almendras, me gustan todos los frutos secos.Except for almonds, I like all nuts.
quitarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to take off
Quítense la ropa mojada antes de entrar a la casa.Take off your wet clothes before entering the house.
