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colar

ko-lar/koˈlaɾ/

to strain

Also: to sieve, to filter
VerbA2irregular (stem-changing) ar
A person pouring liquid through a mesh strainer into a bowl.
gerundcolando
past Participlecolado
infinitivecolar

📝 In Action

Tienes que colar el caldo antes de servirlo.

A2

You have to strain the broth before serving it.

Cuela el café con cuidado.

A1

Strain the coffee carefully.

He colado el zumo porque no me gusta la pulpa.

B1

I strained the juice because I don't like the pulp.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • filtrar (to filter)
  • cribar (to sift)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • colar el café – to strain coffee
  • colar la pasta – to drain the pasta

to sneak in

Also: to cut in line
VerbB1irregular (stem-changing) ar
A small child quietly tiptoeing behind a large bush to get into a garden.
gerundcolando
past Participlecolado
infinitivecolar

📝 In Action

Se colaron en el concierto sin entrada.

B1

They sneaked into the concert without a ticket.

¡No te cueles! Hay mucha gente esperando.

B1

Don't cut in line! There are many people waiting.

El niño se coló por el agujero de la valla.

B2

The boy slipped through the hole in the fence.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • colarse en la fila – to cut in line
  • colarse en una fiesta – to crash a party

to pass off

Also: to fall for
VerbB2irregular (stem-changing) arinformal
A person handing a shiny gold-painted rock to another person who looks impressed.
gerundcolando
past Participlecolado
infinitivecolar

📝 In Action

Esa excusa no va a colar.

B2

That excuse is not going to work (nobody will believe it).

Me intentaron colar un billete falso.

C1

They tried to pass off a fake bill on me.

Le colamos la broma a mi hermano.

B2

We got my brother to fall for the prank.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • engañar (to deceive)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • no colar – to not be believed
  • colar una mentira – to get away with a lie

Idioms & Expressions

  • No me la cuelas – You can't fool me / I'm not buying it

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescolaran
yocolara
túcolaras
vosotroscolarais
nosotroscoláramos
él/ella/ustedcolara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescuelen
yocuele
túcueles
vosotroscoléis
nosotroscolemos
él/ella/ustedcuele

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedescolaron
yocolé
túcolaste
vosotroscolasteis
nosotroscolamos
él/ella/ustedcoló

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescolaban
yocolaba
túcolabas
vosotroscolabais
nosotroscolábamos
él/ella/ustedcolaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescuelan
yocuelo
túcuelas
vosotroscoláis
nosotroscolamos
él/ella/ustedcuela
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "colar" in Spanish:

to filter→to sieve→to strain→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: colar

Question 1 of 3

If you are in a long line at the bank and someone jumps in front of you, what are they doing?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
colador(strainer / sieve) — Noun
colada(laundry / straining) — Noun
recolar(to strain again) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'colare', which comes from 'colum', meaning a 'sieve' or 'basket' used for straining liquids.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: colanderFrench: couler

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'colar' and 'filtrar'?

'Colar' is used for everyday tasks like straining pasta or coffee. 'Filtrar' is more technical or refers to very fine particles (like a water filter).

Can 'colar' mean to do the laundry?

No, but 'la colada' means the laundry. It's related because ancient ways of washing clothes involved 'straining' lye through the fabric.

Is 'colar' used in all Spanish-speaking countries?

Yes, both for the kitchen sense and the 'sneaking in' sense, it is understood everywhere.