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derramar

deh-rrah-MAHRderaˈmaɾ

“derramar” means “to spill” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to spill

Also: to overflow
VerbA2regular ar
General
A glass of orange juice tipped over on a wooden table with a pool of juice spreading out.
gerundderramando
past Participlederramado
infinitivederramar

📝 In Action

Ten cuidado, no derrames el agua.

A1

Be careful, don't spill the water.

Se me derramó el café en la camisa.

B1

I spilled my coffee on my shirt (it happened to me by accident).

El camión derramó toda la arena en la calle.

B2

The truck spilled all the sand on the street.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • derramar un líquido – to spill a liquid
  • derramar petróleo – to spill oil (environmental)

Idioms & Expressions

  • derramar la gota que colma el vaso – the straw that breaks the camel's back

to shed

Also: to spread
VerbB1regular ar
A single blue teardrop falling from a large, expressive eye.
gerundderramando
past Participlederramado
infinitivederramar

📝 In Action

Ella derramó lágrimas de alegría al verlo.

B1

She shed tears of joy upon seeing him.

Muchos soldados derramaron su sangre en esta batalla.

B2

Many soldiers shed their blood in this battle.

El sol derramaba su luz sobre el valle.

C1

The sun shed its light over the valley.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • derramar lágrimas – to shed tears
  • derramar sangre – to shed blood

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoderramara
túderramaras
él/ella/ustedderramara
nosotrosderramáramos
vosotrosderramarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesderramaran

Present Subjunctive

yoderrame
túderrames
él/ella/ustedderrame
nosotrosderramemos
vosotrosderraméis
ellos/ellas/ustedesderramen

Indicative

Preterite

yoderramé
túderramaste
él/ella/ustedderramó
nosotrosderramamos
vosotrosderramasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesderramaron

Imperfect

yoderramaba
túderramabas
él/ella/ustedderramaba
nosotrosderramábamos
vosotrosderramabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesderramaban

Present

yoderramo
túderramas
él/ella/ustedderrama
nosotrosderramamos
vosotrosderramáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesderraman
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "derramar" in Spanish:

to overflow→to shed→to spill→to spread→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: derramar

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'I accidentally spilled the milk'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
derrame(spillage/leak/stroke) — Noun
derramamiento(shedding (e.g., of blood)) — Noun
derramado(spilled) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'diramare,' which meant 'to branch out' or 'to divide branches.' This comes from 'dis-' (apart) and 'ramus' (branch). Over time, the meaning changed from physical branches spreading out to liquids spreading out or spilling.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: derramar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'derramar' the same as 'tirar'?

'Tirar' usually means to throw or to spill something by knocking it over intentionally or clumsily, whereas 'derramar' focuses specifically on the liquid/solid flowing out of its container.

Can I use 'derramar' for 'spill the beans'?

No. To say 'spill the beans,' Spanish speakers say 'soltar la sopa' (release the soup) or simply 'contar el secreto'.

What is a 'derrame cerebral'?

It is the medical term for a stroke. It literally means a 'cerebral spill' or hemorrhage.