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echa

EH-chahˈe.tʃa

puts, adds

Also: pours
VerbA1regular ar
A cartoon hand gently placing a colorful wooden block onto a flat surface.
infinitiveechar
gerundechando
past Participleechado

📝 In Action

Ella siempre echa azúcar al café.

A1

She always adds sugar to her coffee.

El camarero echa agua en mi vaso.

A2

The waiter pours water into my glass.

Usted echa la llave en la mesa antes de salir.

A2

You (formal) put the key on the table before leaving.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • echar leña al fuego – to add fuel to the fire
  • echar gasolina – to put gas (in a car)

throws

Also: hurls, casts
VerbA2regular ar
A child enthusiastically throwing a bright blue ball high into the air against a simple background.
infinitiveechar
gerundechando
past Participleechado

📝 In Action

El pescador echa la red al mar.

B1

The fisherman casts the net into the sea.

Ella echa una piedra al río.

A2

She throws a stone into the river.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • echar una mirada – to take a look

fires, kicks out

Also: expels
VerbB1regular arneutral/informal
A lonely, small figure with a briefcase walking away from a large, imposing, closed door, symbolizing job dismissal.
infinitiveechar
gerundechando
past Participleechado

📝 In Action

El dueño echa al inquilino por no pagar.

B1

The owner kicks out the tenant for not paying.

Si no trabaja bien, la jefa lo echa.

B2

If he doesn't work well, the boss fires him.

Word Connections

Synonyms

misses

VerbA2regular ar
Mexico, Central America
A cartoon character sitting alone on a large bench, looking sadly and longingly at the empty space beside them.
infinitiveechar
gerundechando
past Participleechado

📝 In Action

Ella echa de menos a su familia cuando viaja.

A2

She misses her family when she travels.

Mi perro echa de menos la playa.

B1

My dog misses the beach.

¿Tú echa de menos a tu ex?

A2

Do you (formal) miss your ex?

Word Connections

Synonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • echar de menos – to miss (someone or something)

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedecha
yoecho
túechas
ellos/ellas/ustedesechan
nosotrosechamos
vosotrosecháis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedechaba
yoechaba
túechabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesechaban
nosotrosechábamos
vosotrosechabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedechó
yoeché
túechaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesecharon
nosotrosechamos
vosotrosechasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedeche
yoeche
túeches
ellos/ellas/ustedesechen
nosotrosechemos
vosotrosechéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedechara/echase
yoechara/echase
túecharas/echases
ellos/ellas/ustedesecharan/echasen
nosotrosecháramos/echásemos
vosotrosecharais/echaseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: echa

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'echa' to give an informal command?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
echar(to throw, to put) — Infinitive Verb
echador(a)(thrower, caster (person)) — Noun
el echado(the expelled one (or the thrown object)) — Past Participle / Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
cachafachamarcha
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Latin verb *iactare*, meaning 'to throw, cast, or toss repeatedly.' Over time, the hard 'j' sound softened and the verb took on many new meanings related to placing or expelling things.

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: gettareFrench: jeter

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'echa' means 'throws' or 'adds'?

You need to look at the surrounding words. If 'echa' is followed by an ingredient (sal, azúcar), it means 'adds.' If it's followed by a physical object and a direction (la pelota al jardín), it means 'throws.' Context is everything with this verb!

Is 'echa' related to the word 'hecho' (done/fact)?

No, they are completely different words. 'Echa' comes from the verb *echar* (to throw). 'Hecho' comes from the verb *hacer* (to do/make). They sound similar but are unrelated and have different meanings.