captar

to capture

verb kap-TAHR Less Common

Origin: From Latin captare ('to try to seize'), frequentative of capere.

Also means

to attract

Usage Note

Captar means to capture attention, signals, or meaning — captar una señal de radio ('to pick up a radio signal'), captar la atención ('to capture attention'), no capté lo que dijo ('I didn't catch what he said'). For physically capturing a person, use capturar instead.

Examples

"El anuncio logró captar nuestra atención."

Natural Translation

The advert managed to capture our attention.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Spain vs Latin American Spanish: Key Differences

Spain and Latin American Spanish are fully mutually intelligible. Compare vosotros vs ustedes, coche vs carro, the 'th' sound, and learn which one to study.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Numbers 1-100: Count, Spell & Pronounce

Spanish numbers 1 to 100 are a system, not a list: three patterns build every number. Master the spelling, the accent rule, and how to say prices fast.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Memorize Spanish Vocabulary Fast (That Sticks)

Memorize Spanish vocabulary fast with a 15-minute daily loop: spaced repetition, frequency-first words, and example-sentence cards that actually stick.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Introduce Yourself in Spanish: 12 Real Phrases

Introduce yourself in Spanish with 12 ready-to-speak phrases — name, origin, age, and job — in both tú and usted, with the verb traps that trip up beginners.

June 9, 2026 5 min read