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"Rascar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to scratch", and "rasguñar" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to scratch". Learn more about the difference between "rascar" and "rasguñar" below.
rascar(
rrahs
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to scratch
¿Me puedes rascar la espalda, por favor? Me pica mucho.Can you scratch my back, please? It's very itchy.
2. (to clean)
a. to scrape
Antes de empapelar hay que rascar las paredes para quitarles la pintura.Before papering you have to scrape the walls to remove the paint.
b. to scrape off
Ha nevado, así que seguramente tendremos que rascar el hielo del parabrisas.It has snowed; so we'll probably have to scrape off the ice from the windshield.
c. to scrub
Rasqué y rasqué la sartén, pero no hubo forma de quitarle toda esa grasa.I kept scrubbing the frying pan, but it was impossible to remove all that grease.
a. to scrape away at
Más que tocar la guitarra, lo que hace es rascarla.Rather than playing the guitar, he scrapes away at it.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to be rough
No me gusta esta toalla porque rasca mucho.I don't like this towel because it's very rough.
5. (colloquial) (to prickle) (Colombia)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Colombia
a. to itch
Me rasca el brazo, como si me hubiera picado algún bicho.My arm itches, as if some bug had bitten me.
rascarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
b. to scratch oneself
Deja de rascarte o te vas a dejar una marca.Stop scratching yourself or you'll leave a mark.
7. (colloquial) (to become drunk) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to get drunk
Me rasqué en mi fiesta de cumpleaños con solo un par de cervezas.I got drunk at my birthday party with just a couple of beers.
8. (colloquial) (to idle) (Southern Cone)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to laze around
Se rasca todo el día en vez de buscar trabajo.He lazes around all day instead of looking for a job.
rasguñar(
rrahs
-
goo
-
nyahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to scrape)
a. to scratch
¡El gato me rasguñó la mano cuando lo estaba acariciando!The cat scratched my hand as I was petting it!
rasguñarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to graze
Los patinadores usan rodilleras para evitar rasguñarse las rodillas si se caen.The skaters are using kneepads to avoid grazing their knees if they fall.
b. to scratch
Me rasguñé el brazo cuando me di un golpe contra el borde afilado de la cubierta.I scratched my arm when I bumped into the sharp edge of the counter.
