escabullirse
/eskabuˈʝiɾse/
To sneak in Spanish is to say escabullirse.
The verb escabullirse is used when you want to express the idea of slipping away or escaping a situation. If you are looking for a way to describe a person who is a sneak in the sense of a mischievous person, a rascal or a trickster, you can use the noun pillo.
Meaning: to creep (verb)
Which one should you use?
While escabullirse focuses on slipping away or escaping, do not confuse it with espiar, which means to sneak around for the purpose of spying or eavesdropping.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Escabullirse is a reflexive verb, which means you must use a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) to indicate the subject is sneaking themselves away. For example, the third-person singular preterite form (past tense) is se escabulló, meaning 'he/she/it sneaked away'.
How do you pronounce it?
/eskabuˈʝiɾse/
Did you know?
- The verb escabullirse is inherited from the Latin word capulum, which is derived from capiō, meaning 'to take' or 'to seize'.
- Depending on the region, a person who is a pillo might be called a pícaro, a character type so famous in Spanish literature that it created its own genre called the 'picaresque' novel.
- The term pillo for a 'sneak' or trickster is frequently used as a term of endearment for clever children rather than as a harsh insult.
Examples in context
- Lo pillé intentando escabullirse.I caught him trying to sneak out.This sentence shows how to use the verb escabullirse in a context of being caught attempting to sneak out.Tatoeba #1871947 by marcelostockle, translation #260134 by CK
- La espía actuó sigilosamente para evitar ser detectada.The spy acted sneakily to avoid being detected.
- El ladrón se movió con cautela para no hacer ruido.The thief moved sneakily to avoid making noise.
- El adolescente pudo eludir la vigilancia de sus padres para ir a la fiesta.The teenager was able to sneak past their parents' watch to go to the party.
- Los chicos se colaron por la puerta trasera sin que nadie los viera.The kids sneaked in through the back door without anyone seeing them.
- Intentó escabullirse por la puerta trasera.He tried to creep out through the back door.
Example conversation
María and Daniel are at a boring party.
- MaríaEsta fiesta es muy aburrida, Daniel.This party is very boring, Daniel.
- DanielTienes razón, yo también me quiero ir.You're right, I want to leave too.
- MaríaVamos a escabullirse antes de que nos vean.Let's sneak out before they see us.
- DanielDe acuerdo, salgamos por la cocina.Agreed, let's go out through the kitchen.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry escabullirse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries escabullirse, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
