catar

[kaˈt̪aɾ]

/[kaˈt̪aɾ]/ verb

The verdict

“catar” is a moderately-common Spanish word, ranked #33,482 in Spanish word frequency and used as a verb.

#33,482
frequency rank, Spanish
5
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Probar algo con el sentido del gusto, especialmente los alimentos.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

catar vs CTA
0% similar
catar vs cita
60% similar
catar vs caza
60% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for catar
PropertyValue
Headwordcatar
LanguageSpanish
Part of speechVerb
IPA[kaˈt̪aɾ]
Letters5
Frequency rank#33,482
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “catar” sits in Spanish frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). catar lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The Spanish entry for catar is 5 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [kaˈt̪aɾ]. Corpus data places it at rank #33,482 in overall Spanish word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for catar, with forms such as "actar", "caatr", and "catarr". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "CTA", "cita", "caza", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

No explicit etymology string is stored for this entry, so its spelling is best read as a straightforward mapping from sound to letter. The correct Spanish form is catar, spelled C-A-T-A-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Probar algo con el sentido del gusto, especialmente los alimentos.
  2. 2
    Extraer miel de un panal de abejas.
  3. 3
    Mirar, buscar, pensar, inquirir, ver, examinar, registrar.
  4. 4
    Buscar, tratar de obtener algo.
  5. 5
    Tener o guardar.
  6. 6
    Aplicar algún remedio.

Synonyms

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: actar,caatr,catarr,cattar,ccatar,ctaar

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of catar - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

actar2caatr2catarr1cattar1ccatar1ctaar2
Edit distance from "catar"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 Spanish corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "catar"?
"catar" is spelled C-A-T-A-R. The IPA pronunciation is [kaˈt̪aɾ].
What does "catar" mean?
As a verb, "catar" means: Probar algo con el sentido del gusto, especialmente los alimentos.
What words are commonly confused with "catar"?
"catar" is commonly confused with "CTA", "cita", "caza". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "catar"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "catar" is [kaˈt̪aɾ]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "catar" come from?
"catar" is a Spanish word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “catar”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct Spanish spelling is C-A-T-A-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [kaˈt̪aɾ] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “CTA” - see the side-by-side comparison. catar vs CTA
  • Browse more Spanish words and confusable pairs in the same reference. Spanish words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list