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dispararle

dees-pah-RAHR-leh

Verb (Infinitive + Pronoun)B1regular ar

to shoot him/her/it?To fire a weapon at a target (indirect object).

Also:to fire at him/her?Focusing on the action of firing a gun.

Quick Reference

infinitivedisparar

gerunddisparando

past Participledisparado

📝 In Action

No tuve más remedio que dispararle al ladrón.

I had no choice but to shoot the thief (at the thief).

¿Podemos dispararle a la diana desde aquí?

Can we shoot at the target from here?

La policía intentó dispararle a las ruedas del coche.

The police tried to shoot at the car's tires.

Word Connections

Synonyms

tirarle (to throw at him/her)
fusilarle (to execute him/her (by shooting))

Common Collocations

dispararle a matar – to shoot to kill him/her
dispararle a quemarropa – to shoot him/her at point-blank range

💡 Grammar Points

The Meaning of 'le'

The particle 'le' means 'to him,' 'to her,' 'to it,' or 'to you (formal).' In this case, it tells you who is receiving the action of the shooting.

Pronouns Attach to Infinitives

When you have a main verb followed by an infinitive (like 'querer dispararle'), the little pronoun ('le') can either go before the first verb or attach directly to the end of the infinitive, creating one word.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'lo' instead of 'le'

Mistake: "Quiero dispararlo. (I want to shoot him, using 'lo'.)"

Correction: Quiero dispararle. (I want to shoot him, using 'le'.) The verb 'disparar' usually implies shooting *at* someone, which makes the person an indirect object, requiring 'le'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Placement Flexibility

You can say 'Voy a dispararle' (I am going to shoot him) or 'Le voy a disparar.' Both are correct and very common, but attaching it makes the sentence feel more compact.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: dispararle

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'dispararle'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

disparo(shot (noun)) - noun

disparador(trigger / shooter) - noun

disparar(to shoot (infinitive)) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'le' attached to the end of the verb?

Spanish allows pronouns like 'le' to be attached to the end of the infinitive form (the '-ar', '-er', or '-ir' verb) when it follows another conjugated verb (like 'querer' or 'deber'). It's a choice of placement, and it forms a single, long word.

Do I need an accent mark on 'dispararle'?

No. The stress naturally falls on the last syllable of the verb ('-rar'), so no written accent mark is needed when attaching only one pronoun ('le' or 'lo' or 'la').