hurgar
to dig around
Reviewed by: David WestfallCofounder
To search around inside something, like a drawer
Encoding Strategies:
mnemonic
visual
urge
a desire you can't ignore
+
-ar
verb suffix
Hurgar means to dig around, like searching inside of a messy drawer, and sounds like the English word urge0, since you dig around in something when you have a strong urge to find something.
hurgar
to dig around, to dig through, to rummage
Digging around inside a container or a pile to find something, usually leaving a mess.
Hurgó en el cajón buscando las llavesShe dug around in the drawer looking for the keys
El ladrón había hurgado entre mis papelesThe thief had dug through my papers
to pry, to poke one's nose into (someone's business)
Digging into someone else's private business.
Deja de hurgar en mi vida privadaStop prying into my private life
Le encanta hurgar en los asuntos de los demásHe loves poking his nose into other people's business
to dig up, to rake over (the past)
Digging into old memories, uncovering the past that was buried.
Cada vez que discutimos, hurga en cosas que pasaron hace añosEvery time we argue, he digs up things that happened years ago
La entrevista hurgaba en heridas que ya estaban cerradasThe interview raked over wounds that had already healed
hurgarse
to pick (a body part)
Digging around inside a body part, like picking your nose. Adding se turns the digging on yourself.
Le dijo al niño que no se hurgara la narizShe told the boy not to pick his nose
Se hurgaba los dientes con un palillo después de comerHe was picking his teeth with a toothpick after the meal
to rummage in, to dig through (pockets, bag)
Feeling around in your own pockets or bag for something. Adding se turns the digging on yourself, digging around what you have on you.
Se hurgó los bolsillos hasta dar con la entrada arrugadaHe rummaged in his pockets until he came across the crumpled ticket
Se hurgó la mochila buscando el pasaporteShe dug through her backpack looking for the passport