cuelga
/kwell-gah/
hangs
The red coat 'hangs' (cuelga) from the hook.
cuelga(Verb (Conjugated Form))
hangs
?He/She/It/You (formal) suspends something
,hangs up
?He/She/It/You (formal) ends a phone call
is hanging
?Continuous action
📝 In Action
Mi madre siempre cuelga la ropa en el patio.
A2My mother always hangs the clothes in the patio.
Cuando él se enoja, cuelga sin decir adiós.
B1When he gets angry, he hangs up without saying goodbye.
¿Quién cuelga el cartel? Yo no lo hice.
A2Who is hanging the poster? I didn't do it.
💡 Grammar Points
The O > UE Boot Change
In the present tense, the 'o' inside the verb's root changes to 'ue' whenever the stress falls on that syllable (e.g., cuelgo, cuelgas, cuelga, cuelgan). The 'we' (nosotros) and 'you all' (vosotros) forms do not change.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Él colga la foto."
Correction: Él cuelga la foto. Remember that 'colgar' changes its vowel when the subject is I, you, he/she, or they.
⭐ Usage Tips
Phone Calls
When talking about ending a phone call, 'colgar' is the standard verb, literally meaning 'to hang up.' Use it frequently in this context.
When you command someone to 'Hang up!' (¡Cuelga!), you are instructing them to suspend an item.
cuelga(Verb (Imperative Command))
Hang up!
?Direct command (tú form)
,Hang it!
?Direct command (tú form)
Put it up!
?Referring to posters or decorations
📝 In Action
¡Cuelga la chaqueta en el perchero ahora mismo!
B1Hang the jacket on the coat rack right now!
Te llamo después. ¡Cuelga!
B1I'll call you later. Hang up!
💡 Grammar Points
Affirmative Tú Commands
For affirmative commands directed at 'tú' (you, informal), Spanish uses the exact same form as the 'él/ella/usted' present tense form. So, 'cuelga' means both 'he/she hangs' and 'Hang up!'
⭐ Usage Tips
Attaching Pronouns
When commanding someone to hang it up, attach the pronoun to the end: '¡Cuélgala!' (Hang it [feminine object] up!). Note the required accent mark to keep the stress on the correct syllable.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cuelga
Question 1 of 2
Which of these sentences correctly uses 'cuelga' as a command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'cuelga' means 'He/She hangs' or 'Hang up!'?
You need context! If the sentence has a subject (like 'Él cuelga...'), it's a statement. If it stands alone or starts a sentence with an exclamation mark (like '¡Cuelga la toalla!'), it is usually a command.
Why does the 'nosotros' form of 'colgar' not use 'ue'?
In Spanish stem-changing verbs like 'colgar,' the vowel change (o to ue) only happens when the stress falls on the root vowel. In the 'we' (nosotros) form, the stress is on the ending (-gámos), so the 'o' stays the same: 'colgamos'.