Inklingo

echado

eh-CHAH-doh/eˈt͡ʃa.ðo/

lying down, stretched out

Also: reclining
A brown dog lying completely flat on its side on a bright green grassy hill, resting peacefully.

📝 In Action

El gato siempre está echado al sol en la ventana.

A2

The cat is always lying down in the sun on the window.

Después de la comida, mi abuelo se queda echado en el sillón.

B1

After lunch, my grandfather stays stretched out on the armchair.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • de pie (standing)

Common Collocations

  • estar echadoto be lying down
  • quedarse echadoto remain lying down

lazy, idle

Also: negligent
AdjectivemB1informal
MexicoCentral America
A cartoon fox sleeping soundly in a colorful hammock strung between two trees. Beside the hammock is a large pile of dirty dishes and a sponge, completely ignored by the sleeping fox.

📝 In Action

Es muy echado y nunca ayuda con las tareas de la casa.

B1

He is very lazy and never helps with the housework.

Si eres tan echado, nunca terminarás el proyecto a tiempo.

B2

If you are so idle/lazy, you will never finish the project on time.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

thrown, put

Also: poured, cast
A bright yellow frisbee flying rapidly through the air against a clear blue sky, illustrating the action of being thrown.
infinitiveechar
gerundechando
past Participleechado

📝 In Action

Ya hemos echado la carta al buzón.

A1

We have already put/thrown the letter in the mailbox.

Ella había echado demasiada azúcar al café.

B1

She had poured/put too much sugar in the coffee.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • haber echadoto have thrown/put
  • ser echadoto be thrown out (passive voice)

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: echado

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'echado' to describe a personality trait rather than a physical position?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
echar(to throw, to put, to cast)Verb
el echador(the thrower (person))Noun
la echada(the act of lying down or casting)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

The word comes from the Latin verb *iactare*, which meant 'to throw violently' or 'to cast.' This explains the modern Spanish meaning of 'echar' (to throw/put). The state of being 'echado' (lying down) comes from the idea of being 'cast down' or laid out for rest.

First recorded: Medieval Spanish (c. 13th century)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: acharFrench (indirectly): jeter

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'echado' an irregular verb form?

No. 'Echar' is a regular '-ar' verb, and 'echado' is its regular past participle (ending in -ado). It is used regularly to form compound tenses.

What is the difference between 'estar echado' and 'estar acostado'?

Both mean 'lying down.' 'Estar acostado' usually specifically implies lying down in a bed or going to sleep. 'Estar echado' is more general and can mean stretched out on a sofa, the floor, or the grass.