arrancar
/aranˈkaɾ/
The English phrase "pluck" translates to the Spanish verb arrancar.
The verb arrancar is used when something is removed from its source by pulling or tearing, such as plucking a weed or a tooth. It can mean to pluck, to pull out or to tear away.
Meaning: to pull something sharply, to pull something out (verb)
Which one should you use?
While arrancar implies a forceful or sudden pulling (like plucking a weed), the verb quitar is more neutral and simply means to remove or take away.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person singular preterite (past tense) form of arrancar is arranqué, which means "I plucked / I pulled out".
How do you pronounce it?
/aranˈkaɾ/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, arrancar is commonly used to mean 'to start' an engine or a machine. If you want to start your car, you might say arrancar el coche.
- The word arrancar might have been influenced by the Latin erādīcāre, which means 'to root out'. This is the same root used for the English word 'eradicate'.
- The word arrancar can be used figuratively to describe a sudden burst of emotion or a laugh, as in arrancar una carcajada, meaning 'to provoke a laugh'.
Examples in context
- Para arreglar el jardín, necesitas arrancar las malas hierbas.To fix the garden, you need to pluck the weeds.
- ¡Vaya! Él sacó una rosa del jardín para dármela.Wow! He plucked a rose from the garden to give it to me.
- ¿Puedes sacar las plumas del pollo para hacer la sopa?Can you pluck the chicken feathers to make the soup?
- arrancó la mala hierba de raízHe plucked the weed out by the roots
- Tengo que arrancar las malas hierbas del jardín.I have to pluck the weeds from the garden.
- Él intentó arrancar la etiqueta de la botella.He tried to pluck the label off the bottle.
- No debes arrancar las flores de la planta.You shouldn't pluck the flowers from the plant.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are working in the garden together.
- Mateo¿Puedes ayudarme a arrancar estas malas hierbas?Can you help me pluck these weeds?
- ElenaSí, Mateo, yo las arranco ahora mismo.Yes, Mateo, I will pluck them right now.
- MateoTen cuidado de no arrancar las flores.Be careful not to pluck the flowers.
- ElenaNo te preocupes, lo haré con cuidado.Don't worry, I will do it carefully.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry arrancar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arrancar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
