Spanish Conversation · Level 80
60 words
Spanish word
afanar
Pronunciation
IPA/afaˈnaɾ/
Meaning
- verbsteal
Example
Me afanaron el bolso en el metro.
Someone stole my bag on the subway.
More examples
No te fíes, te pueden afanar en esa estación.
Don't trust anyone, they could steal from you at that station.
Core concept
Person stretching to grasp a prize on a high shelf.
Common phrases
afanar algo a alguien
steal something from someone
afanar el bolso
steal the bag
Similar words
robar: Seizes another person's property using force, threats, or physical violence.
hurtar: Secretly takes an item and carries it away without the owner's notice.
birlar: Quickly snatches a small item in a furtive, dishonest manner.
Definition in Spanish
Puede significar 'esforzarse' (especialmente como afanarse en España) o, en uso coloquial en varios países americanos, 'robar'.
Word origin
From the noun afán 'eagerness' plus the verb suffix -ar, originally meaning to make an effort and later extending colloquially in parts of the Americas to mean 'steal'.
Usage tips
- In Spain the reflexive afanarse normally means 'to strive', while non-reflexive afanar often carries the colloquial 'steal' sense in many Latin American varieties, so use robar in formal speech.