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"Ligar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to tie", and "pillar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to catch". Learn more about the difference between "ligar" and "pillar" below.
ligar(
lee
-
gahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to attach)
a. to tie
El mago me ligó las manos y me dijo que contara hasta diez.The magician tied my hands and told me to count to ten.
b. to tie up
El joven enmascarado ligó a Carmen con unas cuerdas que llevaba consigo.The youth in the mask tied Carmen up with some ropes that he had with him.
c. to bind
Les ligaron los pies con cinta para que no se escaparan.Their feet were bound with tape so that they couldn't run away.
2. (medicine)
a. to put a ligature on (an artery)
E! médico le ligó la arteria a la herida para detener la hemorragia.The doctor put a ligature on the injured woman's artery in order to stop the bleeding.
c. to bind up (a foot, ankle or arm)
Le ligué a Ana el tobillo con un pañuelo.I bound Ana's ankle up with a scarf.
3. (to unite)
a. to bind
Este amor que me liga a él me está destrozando.This love which binds me to him is destroying me.
b. to bind together
Estaban divorciados, pero los ligaba el hijo que tenían en común.Although they were divorced, they were bound together by the son they had together.
c. to link
Las fotos publicadas parecen ligar al actor con el mundo de la droga.The published photos appear to link the actor to the world of drugs.
4. (culinary)
a. to bind
Hay que ligar la salsa con un trozo de manteca.You need to bind the sauce using a little lard.
5. (metallurgy)
a. to alloy
En este experimento vamos a ligar mercurio y plata.In this experiment we will alloy mercury with silver.
6. (colloquial) (cards)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get
Ligó tres fulls seguidos jugando al póker.He got three full houses in a row playing poker.
7. (colloquial) (to obtain) (River Plate)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get
No vale la pena comprar cereales de esta marca solo para ligar un juguete.It isn't worth buying this brand of cereal just to get a toy.
b. to get hold of
¿Dónde puedo ligar un vestido como el que llevas?Where can I get hold of a dress like the one you're wearing?
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
8. (colloquial) (to enjoy romantic success; often used with "con")
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to hook up (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Nando solo piensa en ligar cuando salimos.Nando's always looking to hook up when we go out.
b. to score (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Me dicen que ligaste anoche. ¿Quién era?I heard you scored last night. Who was she?
c. to pull (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Aquella noche salimos todas dispuestas a ligar.We all went out ready to pull that night.
d. to get off with (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¿Has ligado con ese chico que te gusta?Did you get off with that boy you like?
9. (colloquial) (to be fortunate) (Cuba) (River Plate) (Venezuela)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Cuba
Regionalism used in Venezuela
a. to be lucky
Aunque no jugué bien, ligué y gané la partida.Even though I didn't play well, I was lucky and won the game.
ligarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to commit oneself to
El jugador británico está a punto de ligarse al equipo español para las próximas cuatro temporadas.The British player is about to commit himself to the Spanish team for the next four seasons.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
11. (colloquial) (to hook up with)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to make out with (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Se ligó a esa pelirroja de la clase.He made out with that redhead in the class.
b. to get off with (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Al final, Lucy se ha ligado al capitán del equipo de fútbol.Lucy has finally got off with the captain of the football team.
12. (colloquial) (to receive punishment) (River Plate)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
pillar(
pee
-
yahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to grab)
2. (to capture)
a. to catch
Lo pillamos todavía en pijama cuando llegamos a su casa.We caught him in his pajamas when we got to his house.
a. to hit
La parrilla del carro se dañó cuando pillé un ciervo.The car grill was damaged when I hit a deer.
b. to run over
Huele como si alguien hubiera pillado una mofeta.It smells like someone ran over a skunk.
6. (colloquial) (to understand)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get
¿Me lo puedes volver a explicar? No lo pillo.Can you try explaining it to me again? I don't get it.
a. to look
Oye, Carlos, pilla la nueva motocicleta de mi vecino.Hey, Carlos, look at my neighbor's new motorcycle.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Yo iré a la imprenta. Me pilla de camino a casa.I'll go to the printer. It's on my way home.
Ese restaurante me pilla lejos.That restaurant is too far for me.
a. to look
Pilla. El gato intenta abrir la puerta del refrigerador.Look. The cat is trying to open the fridge door.
pillarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
10. (to pinch)
a. to catch
Solo tiene nueve dedos porque se pilló uno en la picadora de carne.He only has nine fingers, because he caught one in the meat grinder.
