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perseguir

to pursue

verb pehr-seh-GHEER Less Common

Also means

to persecute

Usage Note

Perseguir is an irregular stem-changing verb (e→i in stressed syllables): yo persigo, él persigue. It can mean to chase physically, to seek an objective (perseguir un sueño — 'to pursue a dream'), or to persecute — perseguir a una minoría. Context distinguishes the benign from the sinister sense.

Examples

"La policía persiguió al ladrón por las calles."

Natural Translation

The police pursued the thief through the streets.

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