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"Pillar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to catch", and "sorprender" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to surprise". Learn more about the difference between "pillar" and "sorprender" below.
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.
sorprender(
sohr
-
prehn
-
dehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to surprise
Sus amigos la sorprendieron con una fiesta de cumpleaños.Her friends surprised her with a birthday party.
a. to catch
Sorprendí a mi hijo intentando sacar una galleta del tarro de galletas.I caught my son trying to take a cookie out of the cookie jar.
sorprenderse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
