robar

[roˈβ̞aɾ]

/[roˈβ̞aɾ]/ verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“robar” is a regularly-used Spanish word, ranked #3,080 in Spanish word frequency and used as a verb.

#3,080
frequency rank, Spanish
5
letters
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Quitar o tomar para sí lo ajeno usando la fuerza.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

robar vs ropa
60% similar
robar vs Rosa
40% similar
robar vs roja
60% similar

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

Key facts for robar
PropertyValue
Headwordrobar
LanguageSpanish
Part of speechVerb
IPA[roˈβ̞aɾ]
Letters5
Frequency rank#3,080
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “robar” 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). robar 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 robar is 5 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [roˈβ̞aɾ]. Corpus data places it at rank #3,080 in overall Spanish word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for robar, with forms such as "orbar", "rboar", and "roabr". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "ropa", "Rosa", "roja", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

No documented word history exists for this headword, so its spelling is easiest to reason about phoneme by phoneme, absent a documented history. The correct Spanish form is robar, spelled R-O-B-A-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Quitar o tomar para sí lo ajeno usando la fuerza.
  2. 2
    Por extensión, tomar para sí lo ajeno por medio del engaño o la astucia.
  3. 3
    Raptar.^([definición imprecisa]).
  4. 4
    Retener a una persona contra su voluntad para exigir un rescate.
  5. 5
    Quitarle algo a una cosa.
  6. 6
    Llevarse el agua de un río, o las olas del mar, las tierras o arenas de un borde fluvial o de una playa.
  7. 7
    Capturar los sentimientos o atraer la atención de alguien.
  8. 8
    En diversos juegos, tomar una ficha o carta de una pila o montón.
  9. 9
    Darle forma redondeada a una punta.
  10. 10
    En una esquina, darle una superficie plana y estrecha en lugar de la arista.

Synonyms

afanarbirlarchorearchorizarguachipearhuiñarhurtarlevantarpelarplagiarsecuestrarachaflanar

This word in other languages

steal(English)voler(Français)stehlen(Deutsch)roubar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: orbar,rboar,roabr,robarr,robbar,robra,rovar,rrobar

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of robar - 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.

orbar2rboar2roabr2robarr1robbar1robra2rovar1rrobar1
Edit distance from "robar"

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 "robar"?
"robar" is spelled R-O-B-A-R. The IPA pronunciation is [roˈβ̞aɾ].
What does "robar" mean?
As a verb, "robar" means: Quitar o tomar para sí lo ajeno usando la fuerza.
What words are commonly confused with "robar"?
"robar" is commonly confused with "ropa", "Rosa", "roja". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "robar"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "robar" is [roˈβ̞aɾ]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "robar" come from?
"robar" is a Spanish word. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for this and other words across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German on PlainSpell.
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 “robar”

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

  • The one correct Spanish spelling is R-O-B-A-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [roˈβ̞aɾ] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “ropa” - see the side-by-side comparison. robar vs ropa
  • 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