vs 

QUICK ANSWER
"Thieve" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "robar", and "steal" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "robar". Learn more about the difference between "thieve" and "steal" below.
thieve(
thiv
)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. robar
Donny learned to thieve from his older brothers.Donny aprendió a robar de sus hermanos mayores.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. hurtar
He wasn't above thieving the odd CD or DVD from stores.Era muy capaz de hurtar algún que otro CD o DVD en las tiendas.
b. robar
Be on the alert because someone is thieving cattle in this area.Estén atentos, porque alguien está robando ganado en esta zona.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.
steal(
stil
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. robar
The robbers stole everything I had!¡Los ladrones robaron todo lo que tenía!
b. hurtar
The plan is to break in and steal the precious jewels.El plan es forzar la entrada y hurtar las joyas preciosas.
a. robar
I tried to steal third base, but I didn't make it.Intenté robar la tercer base, pero no pude.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. la ganga
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
Three for one? What a steal!¿Tres por uno? ¡Qué ganga!
a. el robo
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
That was an easy steal!¡Qué robo más fácil!
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. robar
Our mother taught us never to steal.Nuestra madre nos enseñó a nunca robar.
a. caminar sigilosamente
She stole across the room without anyone knowing.Ella caminó sigilosamente a través de la sala sin que supiera nadie.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.