Robar vs. atracar vs. asaltar vs. hurtar vs. sustraer
Spanish language has several verbs to refer to the act of robbing or stealing, each one with a slightly different connotation. It is important to understand the nuance between them.
Robar
Refers to stealing in general without specifying how the theft was conducted.
El ladrón robó mi cartera.
(The thief stole my wallet.)
Robaron en la tienda anoche.
(They robbed the store last night.)
Atracar
It is often used to refer to robberies involving violence or intimidation, such as a bank robbery or street mugger.
Atracaron el banco en plena luz del día.
(They robbed the bank in broad daylight.)
Dos hombres atracaron a una anciana en la calle.
(Two men mugged an old lady on the street.)
Asaltar
Refers to an act of robbery with an aggressive connotation, often involving an attack or assault. It is commonly used when talking about house break-ins.
Asaltaron su casa mientras dormía.
(They broke into his house while he was sleeping.)
Los piratas asaltaron el barco mercante.
(The pirates raided the merchant ship.)
Hurtar
It refers to stealing something secretly, without the victim's knowledge at that moment. Normally, it is used for minor thefts.
Han hurtado varios libros de la biblioteca.
(Several books have been pilfered from the library.)
Hurtó la billetera de la señora mientras ella estaba distraída.
(He pick-pocketed the lady’s wallet when she was distracted.)
Sustraer
'Sustraer' is a formal term for stealing and it's commonly used in legal context. It gives a sense of unlawfully taking something away from its rightful owner.
El acusado intentó sustraer los fondos de la empresa.
(The accused tried to embezzle funds from the company.)
Durante el juicio, se le acusó de sustraer secretos comerciales.
(During the trial, he was accused of abstracting trade secrets.)
Summary
In conclusion, these five words all have similar meanings referring to theft or burglary but are used in different contexts. 'Robar' is the general term for stealing; 'atracar' refers to violent robberies; 'asaltar' means robbery involving an attack; 'hurtar' refers to secretive thefts; and 'sustraer' is a formal term used mostly in legal contexts. Understanding these nuances can help choose the correct term depending on the situation.