perseguir
/peɾseˈɡiɾ/
To haunt in Spanish is perseguir.
In English, when you speak of being haunted by memories or past mistakes, you use perseguir in Spanish to convey the sense of being persistently pursued or harassed by those things. If you are discussing an intense preoccupation, you may also use the formal term obsesionar, which means "to obsess."
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between metaphorical and literal haunting. While perseguir is used for the metaphorical sense of being haunted by the past, asustar (to frighten or scare) is used when referring to the literal sense of a ghost scaring someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present indicative form of perseguir is persigue (he/she/it haunts), and the third-person singular preterite form is persiguió (he/she/it haunted). The past participle is perseguido (haunted).
How do you pronounce it?
/peɾseˈɡiɾ/
Did you know?
- A person who is 'haunted' by a goal or an ambition in Spanish is often described as perseguir un sueño. This turns the 'haunting' into a positive or driven pursuit of a dream.
- If you want to say a ghost is 'haunting' a specific house, Spanish speakers often use the verb rondar, which implies wandering or circling around a place.
- The word perseguir is a direct relative of the English word 'persecute'. Both terms share a common ancestor in the Latin word persequī, which meant to follow or pursue to the end.
Examples in context
- Mis pasadas indiscreciones están regresando para perseguirme.My past indiscretions are coming back to haunt me.This sentence is useful for showing how perseguir is used when talking about past indiscretions coming back to haunt someone.Tatoeba #2877059 by rodolforr, translation #23626 by CK
- El espíritu acecha a los vivos en las noches de luna llena.The spirit haunts the living on full moon nights.
- Ese recuerdo no deja de perseguir a la mujer.That memory won't stop haunting the woman.
- Las dudas suelen perseguir a los indecisos.Doubts tend to haunt the indecisive.
Example conversation
Javier and María are talking about a bad memory.
- JavierSiento que esa mala experiencia me va a perseguir siempre.I feel like that bad experience is going to haunt me forever.
- MaríaNo digas eso, Javier, debes superar el problema.Don't say that, Javier, you must overcome the problem.
- JavierEs difícil cuando el recuerdo logra perseguirme así.It is hard when the memory manages to haunt me like this.
- MaríaYo te ayudaré a olvidar ese momento, María lo promete.I will help you forget that moment, María promises it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry perseguir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries perseguir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
