ahuyentar
/auʝenˈtaɾ/
The English verb shoo can be translated into Spanish as ahuyentar. It is also spelled osear. Wiktionary also lists correr and amontar.
Meaning: to induce someone to leave (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ahuyentar | /auʝenˈtaɾ/ | |
| correr | /koˈreɾ/ | |
| amontar | /amontaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | dated |
| zalear | /θaleaɾ/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /saleaɾ/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
|
| oxear | /oɡseˈaɾ/ /oʃeˈaɾ/ |
|
| osear | /oseˈaɾ/ | alternative form |
The term shoo refers to the act of inducing someone to leave.
Which one should you use?
While 'shoo' can mean to drive someone away, ahuyentar specifically carries the nuance of scaring or frightening something away (like animals or birds). Other forms like correr, zalear, oxear and its alternative spelling osear also exist.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, people may use ¡Andá! and ¡Andate! to mean 'shoo' or 'go away' informally. In Mexico, ¡Quítate! can be used to express the concept of 'shoo away.' In Spain, ¡Fuera! and ¡Fuera de aquí! are commonly used to tell someone to go away in an informal manner.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
If you wish to use the related forms meaning 'go away', you can use ox or os.
How do you pronounce it?
/auʝenˈtaɾ/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, shooing away animals is often accompanied by a clicking sound with the tongue or a sharp ¡Tst! sound rather than a spoken word.
- In some rural areas, zalear implies a more physical or aggressive way of shooing, often involving a waving motion of the arms to push someone or something away.
- The Spanish word ahuyentar shares a common ancestor with the English word 'flee', as both stem from the Latin word for 'to flee'.
Examples in context
- ¡Afuera!Get out!
- ¡Lárgate!Shoo!
- ¡Vete de la cocina, cariño!Go away from the kitchen, honey!
- ¡Vete, por favor!Shoo, please!
- Debes ahuyentar a los pájaros del jardín.You must shoo the birds away from the garden.
- Intentamos ahuyentar al gato con un ruido.We tried to shoo the cat away with a noise.
- El olor puede ahuyentar a los clientes.The smell might shoo the customers away.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are in the kitchen with a fly.
- SofíaEsa mosca no deja de molestar.That fly won't stop bothering us.
- MateoVoy a intentar ahuyentarla ahora mismo.I am going to try to shoo it away right now.
- SofíaTen cuidado, no la golpees.Be careful, don't hit it.
- MateoSolo quiero que se vaya.I just want it to leave.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shoo” translations and entries ahuyentar, correr, oxear, osear, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ahuyentar, correr, CC BY-SA 4.0.
