Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Hide in Spanish: Esconder
Esconder · verb · ehs-kohn-DEHR
Esconder is the Spanish verb for to hide, meaning to conceal something or someone from view. The reflexive form esconderse means to hide oneself.
ehs-kohn-DEHR
El niño se escondió detrás del sofá.
The child hid behind the sofa.
Hide in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for hide, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| esconder | hide | ehs-kohn-DEHR | Default, widely understood |
| ocultar | hide | more formal | |
| esconderse | hide | reflexive, to hide oneself |
How Native Speakers Use Esconder
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Game
¡Vamos a jugar a las escondidas! Escóndete bien.
Let's play hide and seek! Hide well.
Children playing a classic game.
Concealing an object
Escondí el regalo en el armario para que no lo encuentre.
I hid the gift in the closet so she wouldn't find it.
Preparing a surprise.
Emotional hiding
No puedes ocultar tus sentimientos para siempre.
You can't hide your feelings forever.
Discussing emotional expression.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Esconder
Missing reflexive pronoun
Incorrect: Los niños escondieron detrás del árbol.
Correct: Los niños se escondieron detrás del árbol.
When people hide themselves, you need the reflexive pronoun se — esconderse means to hide oneself.
Confusing esconder with escondidas
Incorrect: Jugamos a esconder.
Correct: Jugamos a las escondidas.
The game hide and seek is las escondidas (or el escondite in Spain) — esconder alone is just the verb to hide.
Lock in Hide Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Esconder used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using esconder in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El niño se escondió detrás del sofá. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Hide in Spanish
- How do you say 'hide' in Spanish?
- The verb is esconder for hiding something, or esconderse when talking about hiding yourself. A more formal synonym is ocultar.
- What is the difference between esconder and ocultar?
- Esconder is the everyday word for physically hiding something, while ocultar carries a more formal or figurative tone, often used for concealing information or emotions.
- How do you say 'hide and seek' in Spanish?
- In most of Latin America the game is called las escondidas, while in Spain it is called el escondite.