escapar
/eskaˈpaɾ/
The English phrase to flee can be translated into Spanish as huir.
The verb huir means to flee. You can use it with different prepositions to specify direction: huir de means to flee from, and huir hacia means to flee towards. If someone is running without a specific destination, you can use the phrase huir sin rumbo to mean to flee aimlessly. Synonyms for this concept include escaparse (to escape), evadir (to evade) and eludir (to elude).
How does it change in a sentence?
In the present tense, the verb huir conjugates as yo huyo for the first-person singular (I flee) and él/ella/usted huye for the third-person singular (he/she/you-formal flee). For the verb escapar, the first-person singular preterite form is escapé (I escaped) and the gerund is escapando (escaping).
How do you pronounce it?
/eskaˈpaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word escapar originates from the Late Latin word cappa, which means 'cloak'. It literally described the act of slipping away while wearing a cloak to hide one's identity.
- In Spanish, you can use the word escapada to describe a short, spontaneous vacation or a 'getaway', which has nothing to do with fleeing from danger.
- While huir and escapar are synonyms, huir often carries a stronger emotional weight of fear or desperation, whereas escapar implies a successful breakout.
Examples in context
- Después de discutir, decidí pirarmeAfter arguing, I decided to run off
- Cuando vio al ladrón, salió pitando del bancoWhen he saw the thief, he ran off from the bank
- El ladrón logró escapar de la policía.The thief managed to escape from the police.
- No puedes escapar de tus problemas para siempre.You cannot escape from your problems forever.
- Ellos intentaron escapar por la ventana trasera.They tried to escape through the back window.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are watching a news report about a prison break.
- Alejandro¿Viste que el prisionero logró escapar?Did you see that the prisoner managed to escape?
- MaríaSí, es increíble que pudiera escapar así.Yes, it's incredible that he could escape like that.
- AlejandroAhora la policía lo está buscando.Now the police are looking for him.
- MaríaEspero que lo atrapen pronto.I hope they catch him soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry escapar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries escapar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
