robar
/roˈbaɾ/
To rob is robar in Spanish.
The verb robar is used to mean both 'to rob' (targeting a person or a place) and 'to steal' (targeting an object). While English uses different verbs for these actions, Spanish uses robar for both.
Meaning: to commit robbery (verb)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, Mexico and some other Spanish-speaking countries, the informal verb mangar is used to mean 'to steal'. In some Latin American countries, particularly in the Caribbean such as Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, the informal verb afanar is used to mean 'to steal'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use robar to express stealing an object from a person, you must use the preposition a before the person being robbed, following the structure robar algo a alguien.
How do you pronounce it?
/roˈbaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word robar is not derived from Classical Latin, but entered Spanish through a Germanic influence via Late Latin raubāre.
- In the Caribbean, the term afanar can describe stealing, but in other regions afán simply means 'haste' or 'hurry'.
- The verb robar can be used figuratively in Spanish to mean 'to win' or 'to take' something by cleverness or deception.
Examples in context
- Tom trató de robarnos.Tom tried to rob us.This sentence shows how to use robar to describe an attempt to rob someone.Tatoeba #12443178 by emma_zunz, translation #12432160 by CK
- Sami intentó robar un banco.Sami tried to rob a bank.This sentence shows how to use robar regarding an attempt to rob a bank.Tatoeba #8799970 by diegohn, translation #7266382 by OsoHombre
- No compres tu coche en ese concesionario. Te robarán impunemente.Don't buy your car from that dealership. They'll rob you blind.This sentence uses robar in the context of being robbed blindly.Tatoeba #5541663 by albrusgher, translation #595864 by darinmex
- Es importante reportar cualquier intento de robo a las autoridades.It's important to report any robbery attempt to the authorities.
- Ese carro es robado, lo afanaron la semana pasada.That car is stolen, they stole it last week.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Javier are discussing a news report about a crime.
- MaríaDicen que alguien intentó robar la tienda.They say someone tried to rob the store.
- Javier¡Qué horror! ¿Llevaron algo?How awful! Did they take anything?
- MaríaNo, la policía llegó antes de robar nada.No, the police arrived before they robbed anything.
- JavierMenos mal que no pudieron robar nada.Thank goodness they couldn't rob anything.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rob” translations and entries robar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries robar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
