echarme
/eh-CHAR-meh/
to lie down
A person lying down to rest their body.
📝 In Action
Estoy cansado, voy a echarme un rato.
A1I'm tired, I'm going to lie down for a bit.
Necesito echarme una siesta.
A2I need to take a nap.
💡 Grammar Points
The Attached Pronoun
The 'me' at the end means 'myself.' In Spanish, when a verb is in its 'to' form (infinitive), you can stick the pronoun directly onto the end.
Reflexive Action
This is a reflexive verb, meaning you are doing the action to yourself. 'Echar' means to throw, so 'echarme' is literally 'to throw myself' (onto a bed or sofa).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Me echar vs Echarme
Mistake: "Me echar un rato."
Correction: Voy a echarme un rato or Me voy a echar un rato. You can't put 'me' before the verb unless the verb is conjugated or part of a phrase like 'voy a'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Natural Phrasing
Use 'echarme' when you're talking about a quick rest. If you're going to bed for the night, 'acostarme' is more common.
The sudden beginning of an action, like starting to run.
echarme(verb)
to start (doing something)
?sudden beginning of an action
to burst out
?expressing sudden emotion like laughing or crying
📝 In Action
Al oír el chiste, no pude evitar echarme a reír.
B1Upon hearing the joke, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Voy a echarme a correr todas las mañanas.
B1I'm going to start running every morning.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'A' Connection
When using 'echarme' to mean 'start doing something,' you must always follow it with the word 'a' before the next action.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the 'A'
Mistake: "Me eché reír."
Correction: Me eché a reír. Without the 'a', the sentence doesn't work.
⭐ Usage Tips
Suddenness
This phrase implies that the action started suddenly or uncontrollably, like a sudden burst of emotion.
Leaving a workplace after losing a job.
echarme(verb)
to fire me
?losing a job
to throw me out
?being forced to leave a location
📝 In Action
Si llego tarde otra vez, van a echarme.
A2If I'm late again, they are going to fire me.
El guardia va a echarme si no tengo entrada.
A2The guard is going to throw me out if I don't have a ticket.
💡 Grammar Points
Who is doing the action?
In this meaning, someone else is doing the action to you. 'Me' is the person receiving the 'throwing out'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing with 'echarse'
Mistake: "Me eché del trabajo."
Correction: Me echaron del trabajo. 'Me eché' would mean you threw yourself out, which sounds like you quit in a very dramatic way!
⭐ Usage Tips
Casual vs. Formal
'Echarme' is the common, casual way to say someone lost their job. 'Despedirme' is the more professional term.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
present
imperfect
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: echarme
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence means 'I am going to lie down'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'echarme' one word or two?
It is technically two words (the action 'echar' + the person 'me') joined together into one written word.
Can I say 'me echar' instead?
No. You can say 'me voy a echar' or 'voy a echarme', but you cannot put 'me' alone before the 'to' form of the verb.