robar una carta
/robaɾ una kaɾta/from spelling rules
To draw a card in Spanish is robar una carta.
This phrase is used specifically during card games to describe the action of taking a card from a deck. While the verb used here typically means 'to steal' in other contexts, it is the standard term for drawing a card in the context of gaming.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'to steal a card', where robar means 'to steal'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, you may use sacar una carta, tomar una carta or robar una carta. In Spain, the main ways to say this are sacar una carta and tomar una carta.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb robar is a regular -ar verb. For example, the third-person singular past tense is robó (he/she drew a card).
How do you pronounce it?
/robaɾ una kaɾta/
Did you know?
- Because robar literally means 'to steal', using it to draw a card in Spain can sound aggressively unnatural to locals compared to using sacar.
- The Spanish word carta traces its roots all the way back to the Ancient Greek khártēs, which specifically referred to papyrus.
- In a Spanish restaurant, you might ask for the carta to see the menu, as the word refers to any formal printed list or document.
Examples in context
- Por favor, saque una carta del mazo.Please draw a card from the deck.
- El jugador debe tomar una carta para continuar.The player must draw a card to continue.
- Voy a sacar una carta del mazo para ver si gano.I'm going to draw a card from the deck to see if I win.
- Voy a robar una carta del montón.I'm going to draw a card from the pile.
- Es tu turno, roba una carta.It is your turn, draw a card.
- Te toca robar una carta.It is your turn to draw a card.
- No quiero robar una carta ahora.I don't want to draw a card now.
- Debes robar una carta del mazo.You must draw a card from the deck.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are playing a card game at a cafe.
- Lucía¿Quieres robar una carta, Daniel?Do you want to draw a card, Daniel?
- DanielSí, voy a robar una carta.Yes, I am going to draw a card.
- Lucía¡Qué suerte! Es un as.What luck! It is an ace.
- Daniel¡Es verdad! Gracias, Lucía.It's true! Thanks, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carta, robar, una, CC BY-SA 4.0.
