Let's discuss how to learn Spanish vocabulary words and informal Spanish. The word that I am now 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 (for example):

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

Pillamos a un ladrón en su jardin.
(We caught a thief in your garden.)

By the way, I have a friend here in Medellin, Colombia who is learning English in a "universidad" and he told me that "pillar" is the type of word that he would use with his "amigos" and "familia" and not with one of his college professors. Which explains why I see the abbreviation "Fam" (which stands for "familiar") next to "pillar" in one my Spanish dictionaries. In fact, here's the sentence directly from my "diccionario" using the verb "pillar."

Pillé a Santiago en la cocina comiendo sin permiso las galletas de chocolate.
(I saw/caught Santiago in the kitchen eating chocolate cookies without permission.)

It is also interesting to know that "pillo" means "ladrón" in Spanish. "Ladrón" means thief, robber, burglar, etc.

Pat Jackson is the Founder of Learning Spanish Like Crazy. If you would like to get FREE Instant access to the first 2 lessons of Learning Spanish Like Crazy or sign up for our FREE online interactive weekly Spanish classes, then go here now: http://www.LearningSpanishLikeCrazy.com/