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"Rascar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to scratch", and "raspar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to scrape". Learn more about the difference between "rascar" and "raspar" 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.
raspar(
rrahs
-
pahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to abrade)
a. to scrape
Necesito una espátula para raspar el pegamento que cayó en el piso.I need a spatula to scrape the spilled glue from the floor.
b. to scrape off
Antes de pintar, deberíamos raspar la pintura vieja que se ha pelado en la pared.Before we paint, we should scrape off the old loose paint that's peeling from the walls.
c. to sand (with sandpaper)
Para evitar respirar el aserrín, humedece la superficie antes de rasparla.To avoid breathing in the wood dust, wet the surface before sanding it.
2. (to chafe)
b. to scrape
La pedicurista me raspó la piel reseca de los pies para suavizarlos.The pedicurist scraped the dry skin from my feet to smooth them.
c. to scratch
El golpe contra la pared me raspó el codo.The blow against the wall scratched my elbow.
a. to scold
Mi madre me va a raspar si no limpio mi habitación.My mother is going to scold me if I don't clean my room.
b. to tell off
Mi compañero de cuarto me raspó porque no lavé los platos.My roommate told me off for not doing the dishes.
a. to kill
Mi vecino raspó a un hombre que le quiso robar el carro.My neighbor killed a man who tried to rob his car.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to be rough
Estas toallas raspan; tendré que ponerles suavizante cuando las lave.These towels are rough; I'll need to use fabric softener when I wash them.
b. to be scratchy
No me gusta la tela de esta camisa; ¡raspa mucho!I don't like this shirt's fabric; it is very scratchy!
c. to scratch
Mi hija dice que no saluda al abuelito con un beso porque su barba raspa.Mi daughter says she won't greet her grandpa with a kiss because his beard scratches.
6. (to hurt)
a. to feel rough
Me raspa un poco la garganta; creo que me va a dar gripe.My throat feels a bit rough; I think I'm coming down with a cold.
a. to be rough
Algunos tipos de vinos tintos raspan mucho para mi gusto.Some types of red wines are too rough for my taste.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Erica no fue buena estudiante y pasó el año raspando.Erica was not a good student and scraped through the year.
¡Qué susto! Ese carro nos pasó raspando.That was scary! That car barely missed us.
9. (colloquial) (to pass away) (Venezuela)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Venezuela
a. to kick the bucket (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Nuestro vecino raspó hace tres meses, y su familia todavía está afectada.Our neighbor kicked the bucket three months and his family is still upset.
a. to take off
Al oír las sirenas de la policía, rasparon.When they heard the police sirens, they took off.
b. to leg it (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
El ladrón raspó antes de que llegara la policía.The thief legged it before the police arrived.
rasparse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to scratch
Me raspé la pierna con un clavo que sobresalía de esa silla.I scratched my leg with a nail that was sticking out that chair.
b. to scrape
Juan se cayó jugando fútbol y se raspó la rodilla.Juan fell down playing soccer and scraped his knee.
