ocultar

Ocultar is a Spanish verb meaning to hide or conceal something from sight or knowledge. It is primarily transitive, taking a direct object (ocultar algo). It can also express hiding from someone (ocultar algo a alguien) and, in reflexive form, to hide oneself or to refrain from disclosing something (ocultarse). Examples include “Ocultó la carta en el cajón” and “Se ocultó entre las sombras.”

Etymology and related forms: Ocultar derives from Latin occultāre, from occultus meaning hidden or concealed. The word entered Spanish through the Romance languages. Related nouns include ocultamiento and ocultación, which denote the act or process of concealing, as well as adjectives like oculto/oculta.

Conjugation and grammar: Ocultar is a regular -ar verb. Present indicative forms: yo oculto, tú ocultas, él/ella/usted oculta, nosotros ocultamos, vosotros ocultáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes ocultan. Preterite (pretérito perfecto simple): oculté, ocultaste, ocultó, ocultamos, ocultasteis, ocultaron. Imperfect: ocultaba, ocultabas, ocultaba, ocultábamos, ocultabais, ocultaban. Gerund: ocultando. Past participle: ocultado. The verb also appears in reflexive form as “ocultarse” (me oculto, te ocultas, se oculta, etc.), and imperative forms include oculta (tú), oculte (usted), ocultemos (nosotros), ocultad (vosotros), oculten (ustedes).

Usage notes: Ocultar emphasizes concealment of physical objects, information, or intentions, often implying intentionality. It is commonly contrasted with esconder (often more about physical hiding) and disimular (concealment with an emphasis on deception or disguise). Examples: “ocultar la verdad,” “ocultarse de la vista.”

See also: ocultismo (occultism), ocultación (concealment), esconder, disimular.