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When I'm chasing my baby around the room, I frequently tell him, "I'm gonna get you!" and catch him and tickle him. Is there a similar expression in Spanish? I'd love to find something that can be used everywhere, but regional answers are appreciated as well. It should express that we're playing, not that I'm going to get him because he's in trouble or anything.

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  • I wonder if "agarrar" can be used for this sense? I think it usually means "to grab".
    – hippietrail
    Feb 28, 2012 at 14:06
  • This is so region dependant
    – César
    Feb 28, 2012 at 14:55
  • @César: Looking for the most neutral ways to communicate the most region dependant expressions is a great use of a site intended for experts I think!
    – hippietrail
    Feb 28, 2012 at 20:23

3 Answers 3

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In Argentina you would say

'¡Te voy a atrapar!' (prefered)

'¡Te voy a agarrar!'

I think 'Te voy a agarrar' makes it sound like he is in trouble, but not so much, you could still use it.

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    +1 for including te voy a agarrar. Personally though, it doesn't make it sound like the person's in trouble much. As a speaker of Mexican Spanish, it would be my prefered expression. :)
    – Miguel
    Feb 28, 2012 at 18:07
  • I guess it depends on how you say it, if 'Te voy a agarrar!' in said in a playful way then it's ok.
    – Nadia
    Feb 29, 2012 at 23:54
  • I chose this answer because it referenced the location it was used, and it seems like it will be the most useful for my area.
    – Rachel
    Mar 1, 2012 at 2:38
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I would use some variant with pillar:

¡Que te pillo!

¡Te voy a pillar!

But I don't know about the neutrality of the verb "pillar" in other countries (I'm from Spain).

Update:

I would certainly use coger too, but I know it is not "neutral" in many parts of America.

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  • 1
    "pillar" is not used at least in Mexico.
    – Alfredo Osorio
    Feb 28, 2012 at 13:54
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    "pillar" is very used in Chile.
    – Nicolás Ozimica
    Feb 28, 2012 at 22:26
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    Esta uso yo. También se oye con frecuencia A que te pillo.
    – fedorqui
    May 20, 2016 at 5:56
  • "pillar" is not used in Venezuela either. I heard spaniards using it a lot
    – Altons
    Jun 23, 2016 at 12:51
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Some neutral expessions are:

¡Te atraparé!

¡Te voy a atrapar!

¡No te me escaparás!

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    Neutral, meaning what? I'd never say, and I never hear, "¡te atraparé!" in Spain. I think it's good if we add a note about where our answers apply (as far as we know) for the sake of reference, as @MikMik has done on this same page.
    – CesarGon
    Feb 28, 2012 at 13:46
  • @CesarGon "atrapar" is pretty neutral. "El gato atrapó al ratón". Look at buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltConsulta?TIPO_BUS=3&LEMA=atrapar . On the other hand, "pillar" is not used in Mexico for anything.
    – Alfredo Osorio
    Feb 28, 2012 at 13:53
  • I don't dispute that. But, as an idiom, I'd never use that, and I never hear that, in the context described by the OP. I understand and am able to use the verb "atrapar", but it sounds terribly poetic for everyday speech, and I bet this is extensive to the average Spaniard. Hence my complain about your claim for neutrality and the lack of a regional qualifier.
    – CesarGon
    Feb 28, 2012 at 13:56
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    I agree it sounds more neutral (I guess everywhere but in Spain)
    – DarkAjax
    Feb 28, 2012 at 15:42

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