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"Sustraer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to subtract", and "hurtar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to steal". Learn more about the difference between "sustraer" and "hurtar" below.
sustraer(
soos
-
trah
-
ehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to subtract
Les enseñé a mis alumnos a sumar y sustraer números del sistema decimal.I taught my students how to add and subtract numbers in the decimal system.
b. to take away
Si tienes 20 manzanas y sustraes 11, ¿cuántas te quedan?If you have 20 apples and you take away 11, how many are left?
a. to remove
Mi mamá me sustrajo el aguijón de abeja del brazo con unas tenacillas.My mom removed the bee sting from my arm with a pair of tweezers.
b. to take away
El mesero sustrajo nuestros platos vacíos y nos trajo el próximo plato.The waiter took away our empty plates and brought out the next course.
3. (to thieve)
a. to steal
Arrestaron al carterista que te sustrajo la billetera.The pickpocket who stole your wallet was arrested.
a. to extract
Los científicos comenzaron a sustraer agua de las napa subterránea.The scientists began to extract water from beneath the surface.
sustraerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to avoid
Dejé la bebida, así que intento sustraerme de los bares.I quit drinking, so I try to avoid bars.
b. to withdraw
Me fui porque quería sustraerme de la controversia.I walked away because I wanted to withdraw from the controversy.
hurtar(
oor
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to rob)
a. to steal
Vi como uno de los jóvenes en la tienda hurtó un reloj y se lo metió en el bolsillo.I saw one of the youths in the shop steal a watch and put it in his pocket.
b. to pinch (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
La única vez que hurté algo fue una postal de una librería hace diez años.The only time I ever pinched anything was a postcard from a bookshop ten years ago.
2. (to conceal)
a. to hide
Al entrar en el tribunal, el acusado trató de hurtar su cara a las cámaras de los periodistas.The accused man tried to hide his face from reporters' cameras as he went into court.
3. (to copy)
a. to plagiarize
Se le acusó al científico de hurtar las ideas de sus colegas.The scientist was accused of plagiarizing his colleagues' ideas.
b. to lift (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Este trabajo no es tuyo. Te lo has hurtado directamente de Wikipedia.This piece of work isn't yours. You've lifted it straight out of Wikipedia.
a. to erode
El mar hurtó esta roca durante siglos hasta darle esta forma distintiva.The sea has eroded this rock for centuries to give it this distinctive shape.
hurtarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to hide
Mi hermano prefirió hurtarse unos días para poder estar solo.My brother preferred to hide for a few days so he could be alone.
6. (to balk)
a. to shy away
Ella no se hurtaba a los enfrentamientos políticos. Sabía muy bien defenderse.She never shied away from political confrontation. She knew how to defend herself.
b. to hold back
No se hurtó de dar su opinión, aunque nadie se la pidió.He didn't hold back from giving his opinion, even though no one had asked him for it.
