esquivar

to dodge

to avoid

esquivar(

ehs

kee

bahr

)

transitive verb

1. (to move away from)

a. to dodge (a blow or projectile)

El boxeador se agachó para esquivar el golpe de su rival.The boxer ducked to dodge the blow from his rival.

Los niños esquivaron a la bruja y salieron corriendo de su casa.The children dodged the witch and ran out of her house.

b. to avoid (a person or an animal)

Traté de esquivar a un perro que se cruzó en la carretera y me estrellé contra un árbol.I tried to avoid a dog that ran out into the road, and crashed into a tree.

2. (to shun or evade)

a. to avoid

¿Por qué esquivas mi mirada? ¿Tienes algo que ocultar?Why are you avoiding looking at me? Do you have something to hide?

b. to dodge (a question)

La actriz pasó años esquivando preguntas sobre su vida privada.The actress spent years dodging questions about her private life.

c. to sidestep (an issue)

Su respuesta a esta pregunta parece esquivar el asunto.Your response to this question seems to sidestep the issue.

3. (to get out of responsibilities)

a. to avoid

La empresa intentó esquivar el pago de horas extras a sus trabajadores.The company tried to avoid paying its workers overtime.

esquivarse

reciprocal verb

4. (to dodge one another)

a. to avoid each other

Los estudiantes iban y venían por el camino estrecho, esquivándose.Students came and went along the narrow path, avoiding each other.

pronominal verb

5. (to evade; used with "de")

a. to shy away from

A veces los padres se esquivan de hablar de temas importantes con sus hijos.Parents sometimes shy away from talking about important matters with their children.

Conjugations

Practice conjugating esquivar

Indicative of "esquivar"

Present

esquivo

tú

esquivas