perseguir
/peɾseˈɡiɾ/
The English phrase 'get after' can be translated into Spanish as perseguir.
perseguir is used to describe the act of following someone or something quickly in order to catch them.
How does it change in a sentence?
The present participle of perseguir is persiguiendo, which means 'pursuing' or 'chasing'. The first-person singular preterite form is perseguí ('I chased' or 'I pursued'), and the second-person singular present indicative form is persigues ('you chase' or 'you pursue').
How do you pronounce it?
/peɾseˈɡiɾ/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word perseguir is a cognate of the English word 'persecute'. While 'persecute' now usually implies harassment or oppression, both words share the original Latin root for following someone relentlessly.
- In some contexts, perseguir can describe the feeling of being haunted by a persistent thought or a memory that will not leave a person alone.
- While perseguir means to chase, Spanish speakers often use the phrase ir a por in Spain to mean 'get after' or 'go for' something in a more colloquial, everyday sense.
Examples in context
- El detective persigue al sospechoso en la película.The detective gets after the suspect in the movie.
- Voy a por ese puesto de trabajo con todas mis fuerzas.I'm going after that job with all my might.
- Tienes que echarle ganas si quieres lograrlo.You have to get after it if you want to achieve it.
- Échale ganas al trabajo y verás resultados.Put some effort into your work, and you'll see results.
- El policía tiene que perseguir al ladrón.The police officer has to chase the thief.
- ¡No dejes de perseguir a ese gato!Don't stop chasing that cat!
- Los perros quieren perseguir la pelota.The dogs want to chase the ball.
Example conversation
At a local park where a child's toy has rolled away.
- María¡Mira, el balón se escapa!Look, the ball is escaping!
- MateoTengo que perseguir el balón rápidamente.I have to chase the ball quickly.
- María¡Ten cuidado, Mateo, no te caigas!Be careful, Mateo, don't fall!
- MateoNo te preocupes, María, lo atraparé.Don't worry, María, I will catch it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry perseguir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries perseguir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
