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evitar means to avoid — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: November 6, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

evitar

verb • /[eh-bee-TAR]/

to avoid

Example:

Debes evitar comer tan tarde.

You should avoid eating so late.

🧠 What does evitar mean?

Evitar is a transitive verb that means to prevent something from happening or to intentionally stay away from a person, place, thing, or situation. It can describe actions taken to stop an undesirable outcome, such as 'evitar un accidente' (to avoid an accident), or the deliberate act of steering clear of someone or something, as in 'evitar a una persona' (to avoid a person).

📚 Extra examples

  • Para evitar el tráfico, salimos muy temprano por la mañana.
    To avoid the traffic, we left very early in the morning.
  • El médico me recomendó evitar el azúcar y la sal.
    The doctor recommended I avoid sugar and salt.
  • Intentó evitar una discusión cambiando de tema.
    He tried to avoid an argument by changing the subject.

💡 Did You Know?

A common structure is 'evitar + [infinitive]', used when the subject avoiding the action is the same as the one performing it (e.g., 'Evito comer gluten'). When the subjects are different, the structure changes to 'evitar + que + [subjunctive]'. For example: 'El policía evitó que el ladrón escapara' (The police officer prevented the thief from escaping).

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "evitar"

Synonyms: eludir, esquivar, rehuir, prevenir
Opposites: enfrentar, afrontar, buscar, provocar

🔍 See more essential spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to avoid' in Spanish?
The most common and direct way to say 'to avoid' in Spanish is 'evitar'.
How do you pronounce 'evitar' in Spanish?
The pronunciation is /e.biˈtaɾ/. It has three syllables: eh-vee-TAR, with the stress on the final syllable.
How do you use 'evitar' in a sentence?
You can use 'evitar' followed by a noun or an infinitive verb. For example: 'Debes evitar las distracciones' (You should avoid distractions) or 'Evita comer tarde por la noche' (Avoid eating late at night).
What is the English translation of 'evitar'?
The primary English translation of 'evitar' is 'to avoid' or 'to prevent'.
Does 'evitar' change for gender or number?
As a verb, 'evitar' does not change for gender or number. It is conjugated according to the subject and tense. For example: 'yo evito' (I avoid), 'ellos evitan' (they avoid).
Is 'evitar' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'evitar' is a very common and essential verb used frequently in both formal and informal conversations across the Spanish-speaking world.
Does 'evitar' have slang or double meanings?
No, 'evitar' is a standard verb and generally does not have slang or idiomatic double meanings. Its meaning is quite direct.
Is 'evitar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
No, the usage and meaning of 'evitar' are consistent throughout Spain and Latin America. It is a standard, universally understood verb.
How do you conjugate 'evitar' in Spanish?
'Evitar' is a regular -ar verb, so its conjugation follows the standard pattern. In the present indicative tense, it is: yo evito, tú evitas, él/ella/usted evita, nosotros evitamos, vosotros evitáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes evitan.

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