atrapa

Atrapa is the third-person singular present indicative form of the Spanish verb atrapar. It is used to mean “he catches,” “she catches,” or “you catch” (formal). The infinitive form is atrapar, which means to catch, seize, or trap. As a common verb in everyday Spanish, atrapar appears in both concrete contexts (for example, “El gato atrapa al ratón” – the cat catches the mouse) and figurative ones (for example, “La noticia atrapa la atención de todos” – the news captures everyone’s attention).

Conjugation and usage. In the present indicative, the verb follows the regular -ar conjugation pattern: yo atrapo, tú atrapas, él/ella/usted atrapa, nosotros atrapamos, vosotros atrapáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes atrapan. The form atrapa thus appears in order to attribute action to a singular third person, whether referring to a person or to a formal second person.

Etymology and classification. The verb atrapar is of Romance origin and is generally treated as a regular -ar verb in modern Spanish. Its etymology is typically linked to older Romance language developments and, in some accounts, to contact with French terminology for catching or grabbing ideas and objects. Atrap a, as a specific form, reflects standard Spanish morphology rather than representing a distinct lexical entry.

Usage note. Atrapar and its forms are ubiquitous in Spanish prose and speech, spanning everyday narration, sports, law enforcement, and idiomatic expressions. The imperative forms and negative constructions follow standard -ar patterns (e.g., no atrapes).