Spanish word

rescatar

Pronunciation

IPA/reskaˈtaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbrescue

Example

Ella siempre quiere rescatar a los animales abandonados.

She always wants to rescue abandoned animals.

Illustration for rescatar (rescue)

More examples

Los bomberos lograron rescatar a las personas atrapadas en el edificio.

The firefighters managed to rescue the people trapped in the building.

Core concept

A firefighter carrying a child out of a burning building.

Common phrases

  • rescatar a alguien

    rescue someone

  • rescatar a los animales

    rescue animals

  • rescatar de un incendio

    rescue from a fire

Similar words

ayudar: Gives practical or emotional support to someone facing difficulties.
salvar: Delivers a person or thing out of peril, preventing death or loss.
auxiliar: Provides hands-on help with specific tasks to ease a practical problem.
socorrer: Gives swift, urgent aid or first aid in emergency situations.

Definition in Spanish

Significa sacar a una persona, un animal o una cosa de una situación peligrosa o desfavorable para ponerla a salvo.

Word origin

Derived from the noun rescate ('ransom' or 'buyback'), with the sense shifting from buying back to freeing or saving.

Usage tips

  • When the direct object is a person, Spanish uses the personal a (rescatar a alguien), so sentences normally include a before people.

Other meanings

  • saveverb

Opposites

Related words

  • rescaterescuenoun
  • rescatadorrescuernoun
  • rescatadorescuedadjective

Word lists with this word