echarle
/eh-CHAR-leh/
to add
When you echarle sal a la sopa, you are adding salt to the soup.
echarle(verb)
to add
?as in adding an ingredient
,to pour
?to pour a liquid into something
to put in
?to place something inside an object
📝 In Action
¿Puedes echarle más azúcar al café, por favor?
A2Can you add more sugar to the coffee, please?
No le eches tanta sal a la sopa, ya tiene suficiente.
B1Don't put so much salt in the soup; it already has enough.
Hay que echarle gasolina al coche antes de salir.
A2We have to put gas in the car before leaving.
💡 Grammar Points
The attached 'le'
When you see 'echarle', the 'le' means 'to it' or 'to him/her'. It's an indirect object pronoun showing what receives the addition (e.g., the coffee, the soup).
⭐ Usage Tips
Requesting Ingredients
Use 'echarle' when asking a server or a cook to adjust a dish: '¿Le puedes echar más queso?' (Can you add more cheese to it?)
If you echarle la culpa a alguien, you are blaming someone for a mistake.
📝 In Action
Siempre le echa la culpa a su hermano cuando algo sale mal.
B1He always blames his brother when something goes wrong.
No puedes echarle toda la responsabilidad a una sola persona.
B2You can't pin all the responsibility on one person.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'le' is the Blamed Party
In this meaning, the 'le' stands for the person who is receiving the blame or the scolding (the indirect object).
When you echarle un vistazo, you are giving something a quick look or glance.
📝 In Action
Échale un ojo a los niños mientras hago la cena.
B2Keep an eye on the children while I make dinner.
Si necesitas ayuda, con gusto le echo una mano.
B2If you need help, I'll gladly lend a hand (to you).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: echarle
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best translates 'Échale un vistazo a este documento'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the pronoun 'le' attached to the end of the verb 'echar'?
Pronouns like 'le' must be attached to the end of the verb when the verb is in its infinitive form ('echar'), its gerund form ('echando'), or in affirmative commands ('echa'). In all other cases (like 'yo echo'), the pronoun goes before the conjugated verb ('yo le echo').
Is 'echarle' the same as 'echar'?
No. 'Echar' just means 'to throw' or 'to cast.' 'Echarle' is the verb plus the indirect object pronoun 'le' (to him/her/it). You need 'le' when the action of throwing/adding is directed *to* something specific, like 'echarle sal' (to throw salt *to it*).