A Spanish Word You Won’t Learn in School

A couple weeks ago I received an email from Patrick Jackson at Learning Like Crazy on the topic of “Spanish slang and informal Spanish words.”

Patrick’s emails are always a pleasure to read and I usually learn something new. This particular email taught me an informal Spanish word I had never heard before, but now plan to incorporate in my vocabulary. I thought I would share it with you here.

By the way, you can sign up for Patrick’s emails here.

Now heeeeeere’s Patrick:

The next word that I am going to share with you is a very informal vocabulary word. You may want to pay close attention here because I can assure you that you will not see this word in a Spanish vocabulary or grammar book. And you will not learn this word in a Spanish home-study course or taking Spanish classes in a classroom setting.

But Spanish speakers use the word.

I have heard it used in Colombia, in Nueva York, and also in the reggaeton music from Puerto Rican recording artists.

In one my Spanish dictionaries, next to the word is the abbreviation “Fam” which stands for “familiar”.

Here’s the word:

Pillar – to see, to catch

Spanish speakers use this word in the same way that English speakers use the verb “to see/catch” as in “to see/catch a person” especially when the person seen did not want to be seen.

Por ejemplo,

Yo pillé a tu novio con otra en la discoteca. (I saw your boyfriend with another woman in the club.)