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"Hostigar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to pester", and "acosar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to harass". Learn more about the difference between "hostigar" and "acosar" below.
hostigar(
ohs
-
tee
-
gahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to annoy)
a. to pester
¡Deja de hostigarme con tus preguntas!Stop pestering me with your questions!
El asistente de la actriz les pidió a los paparazzi que la dejaran de hostigar.The actress's assistant asked the paparazzi to stop pestering her.
b. to bother
Mis padres me cambiaron de escuela porque mis compañeros de clase me hostigaban por usar anteojos.My parents sent me to another school because my classmates bothered me for wearing glasses.
c. to plague
Diego me hostiga constantemente en relación con el dinero que le debo.Diego plagues me constantly about the money I owe him.
2. (military)
a. to harass
El enemigo nos hostigó con una serie de ataques de guerrillas.The enemy harassed us with a series of guerrilla attacks.
3. (to lash)
a. to whip
El vaquero hostigaba al caballo con su fusta para que fuera más rápido.The cowboy whipped his horse with his crop to go faster.
a. to be cloying to
La miel me hostiga, así que no voy a echarle al té.Honey is cloying to me, so I'm not going to add it to my tea.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to be sickly sweet
No puedo comer más. Este pastel de chocolate hostiga demasiado.I can't eat any more. This chocolate cake is sickly sweet.
acosar(
ah
-
koh
-
sahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to hassle)
a. to harass
Mi amiga Cecilia demandó a su jefe por acosarla de forma persistente.My friend Cecilia sued her boss for constantly harassing her.
b. to pester
No quiero acosarte o ser un fastidio, pero te seguiré llamando hasta que me des una respuesta.I don't want to pester you or become a nuisance, but I will keep calling you until you give me an answer.
c. to hound
La actriz estaba cansada de tener a los paparazzi acosándola a toda hora.The actress was tired of being hounded by the paparazzi all the time.
a. to hound
Los cazadores acosaron al oso hasta que el animal, cansado y asustado, buscó refugio en un árbol.The hunters hounded the bear until the animal, exhausted and frightened, sought refuge in a tree.
b. to pursue relentlessly
El dictador acosó a sus oponentes hasta que se vieron obligados a salir al exilio.The dictator pursued his opponents relentlessly until they were forced to go into exile.
