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"Hurtar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to steal", and "robar" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to steal". Learn more about the difference between "hurtar" and "robar" below.
hurtar(
oor
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to rob)
a. to steal
Vi como uno de los jóvenes en la tienda hurtó un reloj y se lo metió en el bolsillo.I saw one of the youths in the shop steal a watch and put it in his pocket.
b. to pinch (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
La única vez que hurté algo fue una postal de una librería hace diez años.The only time I ever pinched anything was a postcard from a bookshop ten years ago.
2. (to conceal)
a. to hide
Al entrar en el tribunal, el acusado trató de hurtar su cara a las cámaras de los periodistas.The accused man tried to hide his face from reporters' cameras as he went into court.
3. (to copy)
a. to plagiarize
Se le acusó al científico de hurtar las ideas de sus colegas.The scientist was accused of plagiarizing his colleagues' ideas.
b. to lift (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Este trabajo no es tuyo. Te lo has hurtado directamente de Wikipedia.This piece of work isn't yours. You've lifted it straight out of Wikipedia.
a. to erode
El mar hurtó esta roca durante siglos hasta darle esta forma distintiva.The sea has eroded this rock for centuries to give it this distinctive shape.
hurtarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to hide
Mi hermano prefirió hurtarse unos días para poder estar solo.My brother preferred to hide for a few days so he could be alone.
6. (to balk)
a. to shy away
Ella no se hurtaba a los enfrentamientos políticos. Sabía muy bien defenderse.She never shied away from political confrontation. She knew how to defend herself.
b. to hold back
No se hurtó de dar su opinión, aunque nadie se la pidió.He didn't hold back from giving his opinion, even though no one had asked him for it.
robar(
rroh
-
bahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to break into
Robaron en mi apartamento la semana pasada pero no se llevaron nada.My apartment was broken into last week but nothing was taken.
