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"Sacar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to take out", and "retirar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to remove". Learn more about the difference between "sacar" and "retirar" below.
sacar(
sah
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to remove)
a. to take out
En ese restaurante, sacan la basura cinco veces al día.At that restaurant they take out the trash five times a day.
2. (to expel)
a. to remove
Hay varias maneras de sacar una astilla con la ayuda de unas pinzas.There are several ways to remove a splinter with the aid of tweezers.
3. (to produce)
a. to take (a photograph)
¿Nos sacarías una foto a Gerard Piqué y a mí?Would you take a photo of Gerard Piqué and me?
b. to make (a photocopy)
Quiero sacar una copia del anuncio en el periódico.I want to make a copy of the ad in the newspaper.
4. (to receive)
a. to extract
El mejor jarabe de arce se saca de árboles en Canadá.The best maple syrup is extracted from trees in Canada.
6. (to move)
a. to take out
Saca el dedo de la boca que ya no eres un bebé.Take your thumb out of your mouth; you're not a baby any more.
7. (to publish)
sacarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
10. (to remove)
11. (to move)
b. to take out
No me saqué las manos de los bolsillos en toda la noche por el frío que hacía.I didn't take my hands out of my pockets all night because it was so cold.
retirar(
rreh
-
tee
-
rahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to remove
Retire la pegatina con cuidado.Remove the sticker carefully.
En estos momentos la grúa está retirando el vehículo accidentado de la carretera.Right now the tow truck is removing the damaged vehicle from the roadway.
b. to take away
Retiraron las mesas para echarnos de la terraza.They took away the tables to get us to leave the terrace area.
a. to take away
Retira la tarta antes de que la vea el cumpleañero.Can you take the cake away before the birthday boy sees it?
b. to remove
Te aconsejo que retires todos los objetos de valor antes de abrir la casa al público .I'd advise you to remove all your valuables before you open the house to the public.
a. to withdraw (troops, ambassador)
El coronel cree que fue un error retirar las tropas de la región.The colonel believes that it was an error to withdraw the troops from the region.
b. to recall (ambassador, envoy)
Retiraron a su embajador en Londres como protesta.They recalled their ambassador to London as a protest.
a. to withdraw
Las autoridades le retiraron el pasaporte a Alicia.The authorities withdrew Alicia's passport.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Mi marido nunca me retiró la confianza.My husband never lost confidence in me.
El partido le retiró la confianza al presidente cuando malversó fondos.The president lost the party's confidence when he misappropriated funds.
5. (to retract)
a. to withdraw
Adela retiró la mano y miró a Rogelio horrorizada.Adela withdrew her hand and looked at Rogelio aghast.
b. to pull away
Mauricio quería besarla, pero Imelda le retiró la cara.Mauricio wanted to kiss ker, but Imelda pulled her face away from him.
a. to force to retire
El Estado retirará a 600 funcionarios este año.The State will force 600 government employees to retire this year.
b. to retire
Juan me explicó que su empresa quiere retirarlo.Juan explained to me that his company wants to retire him.
c. to pension off
Tendrás que callarte si no quieres que te retiren.You'll have to hold your tongue if you don't want to be pensioned off.
8. (finance)
a. to withdraw
Alguien retiró 300 dólares de mi cuenta.Someone withdrew 300 dollars from my account.
a. to collect
¿Vamos a retirar las entradas en taquilla?Shall we collect the tickets from the ticket office?
b. to pick up
Esta tarde, tendré que pasar por la tintorería para retirar el traje de Manuel.I'll need to go to the dry cleaner's this afternoon to pick up Manuel's suit.
a. to withdraw
La empresa retiró los autobuses más antiguos.The company withdrew the oldest buses.
Retiraron los billetes falsos de la circulación.The counterfeit notes were withdrawn from circulation.
retirarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡No se retire, por favor!Please hold!
El recepcionista me pidió que no me retirara.The receptionist asked me to hold the line.
14. (to go to sleep)
a. to go to bed
Me voy a retirar, que mañana madrugo.I'll go to bed now as I have an early start tomorrow.
15. (to go away)
a. to retreat
Los soldados se retiraron a causa de las fuerzas superiores enemigas.The soldiers retreated because of the enemy's superior forces.
a. to pull out
El ciclista se retiró de la carrera a pocos metros de la meta.The cyclist pulled out of the race just a few meters from the finish.
b. to withdraw
Tuve que retirarme del concurso cuando me resfrié.I had to withdraw from the competition when I caught a cold.
a. to take oneself off
El chamán se retiró a lo más profundo de la selva en busca de sí mismo.The shaman took himself off to the depths of the jungle to find himself.
b. to go away
Cansada de la ciudad, se retiró a un sitio alejado de la Patagonia.Tired of the city, she went away to an isolated spot in Patagonia.
c. to retire
Alfredo se decidió a retirarse a un monasterio para meditar.Alfredo decided to retire to a monastery to meditate.
