vs 

QUICK ANSWER
"Cazar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to hunt", and "apresar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to catch". Learn more about the difference between "cazar" and "apresar" below.
cazar(
kah
-
sahr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to hunt
Mi tío y sus amigos cazan ciervos en el otoño.My uncle and his friends hunt deer in the fall.
b. to catch
Los niños están por el arroyo, cazando ranas.The children are down by the creek, catching frogs.
c. to trap
La araña utiliza su tela para cazar su presa.The spider uses its web to trap its prey.
d. to shoot (with gun)
Cuando éramos niños, nos gustaba cazar palomas en el campo.When we were kids, we liked to shoot pigeons in the country.
a. to catch
El guardia de seguridad me cazó robando.The security guard caught me stealing.
3.
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
(figurative)
(to comprehend)
a. to understand
Puedo leer en francés, pero no cazo una palabra cuando lo escucho.I can read French, but I don't understand a word when I hear it.
b. to get
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
¿Cazaste lo que nos explicó la maestra hoy?Did you get what the teacher explained to us today?
a. to capture
Muchos candidatos están usando las redes sociales para cazar votos.Many candidates are using social media to capture votes.
b. to land
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Tuve mucha suerte y cacé un puesto con muy buen sueldo.I got really lucky and landed a very well-paid job.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to hunt
¿Te gusta cazar, Sr. Darcy?Do you like to hunt, Mr. Darcy?
b. to go hunting
Antonio tiene un retriever para cuando caza en el campo.Antonio has a retriever for when he goes hunting in the country.
c. to shoot (with gun)
Soy muy buena para pescar, pero nunca aprendí a cazar.I'm great at fishing, but I never learned to shoot.
d. to go shooting (with gun)
Prefiero cazar en el bosque que en el desierto.I prefer to go shooting in the forest than the in desert.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.
apresar(
ah
-
preh
-
sahr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to catch
A los gatos le gusta apresar ratones entre sus garras.Cats like to catch mice in their claws.
b. to seize
El león apresó a la cría de gacela con sus afilados colmillos.The lion seized the baby gazelle with its sharp teeth.
a. to catch
La rapidez de uno de los guardias de seguridad ayudó a la policía a apresar a un supuesto agresor.The quickness of one of the security guards helped the police to catch an alleged attacker.
b. to apprehend
Las autoridades dicen que es probable que hayan apresado al asesino en serie que aterrorizaba a la ciudad.Authorities say they may have apprehended the serial killer that was terrorizing the city.
c. to arrest
Ayer apresaron a un joven que intentaba robar un auto.A young man who was trying to steal a car was arrested yesterday.
a. to seize
La guardia costera apresó un barco sospechoso de llevar droga.The coastguard seized a boat that was allegedly carrying drugs.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.