esconder
Lemma Details
Translation: to hide; to conceal; to stash; to secrete
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Esconder comes from Latin 'abscondere' (to hide away, conceal), which is composed of 'abs-' (away) and 'condere' (to put together, store). The English word 'abscond' (to depart secretly) shares this Latin root, though with a different semantic evolution. The connection between 'esconder' and 'abscond' can help English speakers remember the Spanish verb's meaning of hiding something away.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El niño escondió los dulces debajo de su cama.
The boy hid the candies under his bed.
No puedes esconder la verdad para siempre.
You can't hide the truth forever.
Me escondí detrás de la puerta para sorprenderla.
I hid behind the door to surprise her.
Esconde bien el regalo hasta su cumpleaños.
Hide the gift well until her birthday.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'esconder' as 'es-con-der' where 'con' suggests 'containing' something out of sight.
- Connect it to the English word 'abscond' (to hide away) which shares the same Latin root.
- Imagine someone saying 'Es-con-dear' (it's with dear) when hiding something precious.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
The verb is commonly used in children's games like 'el escondite' (hide and seek), which is a popular game in Spanish-speaking countries. It's also used in many idiomatic expressions related to secrecy and concealment.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'esconder' means 'to hide', 'escuchar' means 'to listen'. They look similar because they both start with 'esc-', but have completely different meanings.
This word:
Voy a esconder las llaves en un lugar seguro.
I'm going to hide the keys in a safe place.
Confused word:
Necesito escuchar tu opinión sobre este tema.
I need to listen to your opinion on this topic.
Notes: The stress in 'esconder' falls on the second syllable, while in 'escuchar' it falls on the second syllable as well.
Mnemonic: Remember: escONDER is about hiding things OUT of sight, while escUCHAR is about using your EARS to listen.
Explanation: 'Esconder' means 'to hide', while 'ascender' means 'to ascend' or 'to rise'. They differ by just one letter but have completely different meanings.
Confused word:
Espero ascender a un mejor puesto el próximo año.
I hope to be promoted to a better position next year.
Notes: Both are regular -er verbs but with different meanings in different contexts.
Mnemonic: 'Esconder' starts with 'E' for 'Eclipsing' (hiding) something, while 'ascender' starts with 'A' for 'Ascending' upward.