colgar
/kohl-GAHR/
to hang
Colgar, meaning 'to hang,' is illustrated by this coat suspended from a hook.
colgar(verb)
to hang
?suspend an object
,to put up
?a picture, curtain, etc.
to suspend
?formal usage
📝 In Action
Por favor, cuelga tu abrigo en el perchero.
A2Please hang your coat on the coat rack.
Vamos a colgar luces de Navidad en el balcón.
B1We are going to hang Christmas lights on the balcony.
💡 Grammar Points
The O to UE Change
In the present tense, the 'o' changes to 'ue' whenever the stress falls on the root of the word (yo, tú, él/ella, ellos/ellas). Remember: 'Nosotros' and 'vosotros' keep the original 'o'.
Spelling Change in the Past
In the 'yo' form of the preterite (simple past), 'colgar' changes to 'colgué' (adding a 'u') to make sure the 'g' keeps its hard sound, like in 'gato'.
When you finish a conversation, you 'colgar' (hang up) the phone.
📝 In Action
Estaba hablando cuando mi hermano me colgó.
A1I was talking when my brother hung up on me.
Espera, no cuelgues, necesito decirte algo más.
A2Wait, don't hang up, I need to tell you something else.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Colgar' with People
When you hang up on someone, you often use the indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos) before the verb to show who the action affected: 'Me colgó' (He hung up on me).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Misusing the Reflexive Form
Mistake: "Me colgué."
Correction: Me colgó. The action (hanging up) is done *to* the phone, not *to* yourself. The person you were talking to 'colgó' (hung up) on you ('me').
⭐ Usage Tips
In Latin America
While 'colgar' is understood, many places prefer 'cortar' (to cut) or 'terminar la llamada' (to end the call) when referring to hanging up the phone.
When a computer system fails or freezes, we say it 'colgar' (crashed).
colgar(verb)
to crash
?computer, app, or system
,to freeze up
?device stops working
to seize up
?device failure
📝 In Action
Mi móvil se colgó justo cuando iba a guardar el archivo.
B2My mobile froze right when I was about to save the file.
La red se cuelga a menudo en esta zona.
C1The network crashes often in this area.
💡 Grammar Points
Using the Reflexive for Accidents
When talking about technology failing unexpectedly, we use the reflexive form ('se colgar') to show the action happened to the object, often implying it wasn't anyone's fault.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: colgar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'colgar' to mean ending a phone conversation?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'colgar' used for hanging people (execution)?
Yes, historically and technically, 'colgar' can mean 'to hang' in that context, but this usage is rare and morbid. The more common and neutral word for that specific action is usually 'ahorcar'.
When do I use 'colgar' versus 'tender' for clothes?
'Colgar' means to hang something generally, like putting a shirt on a hanger. 'Tender' specifically means to hang clothes outside on a line to dry. Both are acceptable, but 'tender la ropa' is more specific to drying.