How Do You Say Robbery in Spanish? | Spanish Words That Fit

Most speakers say “robo”; “atraco” fits a street hold-up, and “hurto” fits theft without violence or threats.

You’ll see “robbery” translated a few ways in Spanish, and that’s normal. English packs several crimes and everyday meanings into one word. Spanish splits them out. Pick the right term, and your sentence sounds natural in chat, a report, or a headline.

Below you’ll get the core nouns, the verbs you’ll actually say out loud, and short phrases you can use when you’re stressed and need to be understood.

Robo Is The Default Word Most People Use

If you need one safe, everyday answer, start with robo. In common speech, robo covers the idea that someone took something that wasn’t theirs. It works for a phone taken from a bag, a car taken from a street, or cash taken from a register.

Robo also shows up in a casual sense: “that was a rip-off” or “that was unfair.” Sports fans say it after a bad call. The dictionary entry captures both the core meaning and the everyday feel.

Two patterns cover most conversations:

• Hubo un robo = There was a robbery / theft.
• Me robaron = I got robbed / They stole from me.

That second one matters. Spanish often frames the victim as the person affected: Me robaron el móvil (They stole my phone). You can also say Me robaron alone when the context is clear.

Robo, Robar, Robo

Robar is the verb (to steal). Robo is the noun (a theft / a robbery). And yo robo means “I steal” in the present tense. The spelling stays the same, so context does the job.

Saying Robbery In Spanish For Police And Paperwork

In formal settings, you can still use robo, yet you’ll hear narrower labels that point to how it happened. News and legal writing often separates theft without threats from theft with threats or violence. If you’re filing a report, listen to the officer’s wording and mirror it.

One common divider is hurto. It points to taking something without violence or intimidation, which is why pickpocketing and shop theft get described as hurto so often.

Another common label is atraco. It’s used for a hold-up, often with threats, sometimes with a weapon, and often aimed at a business. In casual talk, it can also mean “a rip-off.”

If you want a quick rule that matches many headlines: hurto feels like stealth, atraco feels like a direct hold-up, and robo sits as the broad umbrella. Fundéu has a short writing note that lays out the shades between asalto, hurto, and robo.

False Friends And Near Matches

English “assault” and Spanish asalto look like twins, yet they don’t line up cleanly. In Spanish, asalto can mean an attack, a raid, or a mugging/hold-up depending on place and context. If you only need “robbery,” don’t default to asalto unless you’re sure the local use matches what you mean.

“Burglary” is also tricky. Spanish often expresses the “breaking in” idea with a phrase such as robo con allanamiento or allanamiento de morada, and many speakers still just say robo in daily talk.

What To Say When It Happens

When something goes missing, you rarely get time to craft a perfect sentence. These patterns keep your meaning clear and your grammar simple.

When You Mean “Someone Took My Stuff”

• Me robaron la cartera. They stole my wallet.
• Me han robado el móvil. My phone’s been stolen.
• Le robaron el bolso a mi amiga. They stole my friend’s bag.

When It Was A Hold-Up Or Mugging

If someone threatened you face-to-face, many speakers reach for atraco or asaltar. If you don’t want to pick a label, describe the action:

• Me amenazaron y me quitaron el teléfono. They threatened me and took my phone.
• Me apuntaron con un arma y me robaron. They pointed a weapon at me and robbed me.
• Fue un atraco. It was a hold-up.

When It Was Theft Without Threats

Pickpocketing and shop theft often get described with hurto or a verb like hurtar, though in everyday talk robar still shows up a lot.

• Creo que fue un hurto. I think it was theft without threats.
• Me sacaron el móvil del bolsillo. They took my phone out of my pocket.
• Me lo robaron sin darme cuenta. They stole it and I didn’t notice.

Spanish Terms You’ll Hear In News And Claims

Headlines and paperwork often add set phrases. Knowing them helps you read reports and also describe what happened with less back-and-forth.

If you want definitions from standard Spanish sources, these pages are a solid reference: RAE “robo”, RAE “hurto”, RAE “atraco”, and Fundéu on “asalto”, “hurto” and “robo”.

• Robo con violencia: theft with violence.
• Robo con fuerza: theft using force on property (like breaking a lock).
• Robo a mano armada: armed robbery.
• Robo de vehículo: vehicle theft.

Table Of Common Spanish Words Related To Robbery

Spanish Term	Plain-English Meaning	Where You’ll Hear It
robo	theft/robbery (broad)	Daily talk, headlines, reports
robar	to steal / to rob	Any setting, spoken or written
hurto	theft without violence or threats	News, claims, police language
hurtar	to steal (often formal)	News, formal writing
atraco	hold-up, often with threats	News, street talk, reports
asaltar	to attack; also to mug in some places	News and regional speech
asalto	attack/raid; also “mugging” in some places	News and regional speech
allanamiento	unlawful entry / breaking in	Legal talk, formal reports

Regional Habits That Can Shift The Label

Spanish is shared by many countries, and crime vocabulary bends with region. The safe play is to lead with robo and add detail. That way you’re understood even when the local label differs.

If you’re unsure which noun sounds best where you are, add these details instead of chasing the “perfect” label:

• Where it happened (street, store, home).
• Whether there were threats, violence, or a weapon.
• What was taken.
• Time and direction the person ran.

How To Describe A Robbery Without Legal Jargon

If you’re speaking to police or staff, you don’t need courtroom Spanish. Short sentences with concrete facts beat fancy labels. Use verbs that carry the event:

• robar: to steal/rob
• quitar: to take away
• amenazar: to threaten
• romper: to break (a lock, a window)
• entrar: to enter (a place)

Then build a clean timeline with plain connectors:

• Primero: Estaba en el metro.
• Luego: Me quitaron la cartera.
• Después: Me di cuenta al bajar.

Ready Lines For Hotels, Shops, And The Street

These lines fit the situations travelers mention most. Swap the item and place, and you’re set.

At A Hotel Or Rental

• Me han robado en la habitación. I’ve been robbed in the room.
• Falta dinero de la caja fuerte. Money is missing from the safe.
• ¿Puede llamar a la policía? Can you call the police?

In A Store Or Mall

• Me robaron la cartera aquí. My wallet was stolen here.
• ¿Hay cámaras? Are there cameras?
• Necesito hacer una denuncia. I need to file a report.

On The Street Or Transit

• Me robaron el móvil en el autobús. My phone was stolen on the bus.
• Me empujaron y me quitaron el bolso. They shoved me and took my bag.
• Fue rápido. It happened fast.

Common Mistakes With This Translation

A lot of confusion comes from mapping one English word onto one Spanish word. These fixes solve most of it.

Mixing Up The Label

Robo is safe, yet it can feel vague in a report. If you know it was a stealth take, hurto may fit better. If you know it was a hold-up, atraco may fit better. When you’re not sure, keep robo and add the detail about threats, violence, or a weapon.

Dropping The Indirect Object

Me robaron el coche sounds natural. Robaron mi coche is also possible, yet it can sound more detached in some contexts. If you’re speaking under stress, the me form is easy and common.

Quick Pick List For The Right Word

Use this quick pick list when you’re choosing the noun.

1. If you want one word fast: robo.
2. If it was stealthy: hurto, or describe how it was taken.
3. If it was a hold-up: atraco, or describe the threat.
4. When stakes are high: add where, what, and whether there was a weapon.

Table Of Useful Sentences With Natural Spanish

What You Want To Say	Spanish Sentence	When It Fits
There was a robbery.	Hubo un robo.	Headlines, quick report
My phone was stolen.	Me robaron el móvil.	Any setting
I was mugged.	Me asaltaron.	Places where “asaltar” is used for mugging
It was a hold-up.	Fue un atraco.	Direct confrontation, threats
It was pickpocketing.	Fue un hurto.	Stealth theft without threats
They broke the lock and stole.	Forzaron la cerradura y robaron.	Break-in, property damage
Please call the police.	Por favor, llame a la policía.	Hotels, shops, street

Robo gets you understood, and details make you precise. Pair the word with what happened, and your Spanish will sound right for the situation.