Spanish · Romance & Flirting
Ligar
lee-GAR · /li.ˈɣaɾ/
To flirt / to hook up / to pull
1/5 Grandma-safe
mild, playful; fine on daytime TV
Literally
"To link / to bind"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
The standard word for flirting and picking someone up, strongest in Spain ("salir a ligar" = go out on the pull) but understood everywhere. Clean enough for daytime. Mexico leans more on "ligar" too now, alongside the folksier "echar los perros." A "ligue" is the person you're seeing casually.
Heard in the wild
Salimos el sábado a ver si ligas algo.
We're going out Saturday to see if you pull someone.
Where it lands
Spain (primary); understood in Mexico
Quick answers
- What does "Ligar" mean?
- In Spanish, "Ligar" means "To flirt / to hook up / to pull". Literally it's "To link / to bind". The standard word for flirting and picking someone up, strongest in Spain ("salir a ligar" = go out on the pull) but understood everywhere. Clean enough for daytime. Mexico leans more on "ligar" too now, alongside the folksier "echar los perros." A "ligue" is the person you're seeing casually.
- Is "Ligar" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
- How do you pronounce "Ligar"?
- Say it "lee-GAR" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: li.ˈɣaɾ.
Related in Spanish
Coger koh-HEHR To have sex (Mexico); to grab/catch (Spain) Echar los perros eh-CHAR lohs PEH-rrohs To hit on someone / put the moves on Estar buenote / buenota ess-TAR bweh-NOH-teh To be hot / smoking Fajar fah-HAR To make out / heavy petting Mamacita mah-mah-SEE-tah Hottie / gorgeous (as an address) Poner los cuernos poh-NEHR lohs KWEHR-nohs To cheat on / two-time
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