provocar (burlarse, pinchar)
verbCEFR B2
What does “provocar (burlarse, pinchar)” mean in English?
to tease, to wind up
to tease, to wind up (provocar — playful or malicious baiting; interpersonal register)
Example sentences
Sus compañeros lo provocaban con comentarios sarcásticos cada vez que proponía ideas poco convencionales.
His colleagues wound him up with sarcastic comments every time he proposed unconventional ideas.
Dejó de intentar provocarla porque sabía que ella nunca caería en la trampa.
He stopped trying to wind her up because he knew she would never fall into the trap.
Los aficionados del equipo visitante intentaban provocar a los jugadores locales con cánticos ofensivos.
The visiting team's fans tried to taunt the home players with offensive chants.
How to use it
Provocar in the 'tease' sense means 'to wind someone up', 'to bait', or 'to taunt'. It is informal and interpersonal. The same verb in formal register means 'to cause/provoke' (provocar una crisis). Context makes the sense clear. In the tease sense: provocar a alguien (goad/bait someone), lo provoca para que reaccione (winds him up so he reacts). Near-synonyms for the tease sense: burlarse de (mock), pinchar (needle/poke fun), molestar (bother/irritate).
Common mistake
Provocar has two completely separate registers: formal (to cause/provoke a crisis, reaction) and informal (to tease/wind up). Don't confuse them by register mismatch — 'provocar una crisis' in a business meeting is fine; 'provocar a tu hermano' is playground register. Burlarse de is more explicitly mocking; pinchar is milder, more affectionate teasing.