Inklingo
Dictionary

echarme

eh-CHAR-meheˈt͡ʃaɾme

“echarme” means “to lie down” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

to lie downA1Verb

to rest your body

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to start (doing something)B1Verb

sudden beginning of an action

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to fire meA2Verb

losing a job

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to lie downAlso: to take a nap

VerbA1regular ar
A person resting comfortably on a soft bed with a pillow.
infinitiveecharse
past Participleechado
gerundechándome

📝 In Action

Estoy cansado, voy a echarme un rato.

A1

I'm tired, I'm going to lie down for a bit.

Necesito echarme una siesta.

A2

I need to take a nap.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tumbarme (to lie down)
  • acostarme (to go to bed)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • echarme una siesta – to take a nap
  • echarme en el sofá – to lie on the sofa

to start (doing something)Also: to burst out

VerbB1regular ar
A person suddenly beginning to run from a starting line.
infinitiveecharse
past Participleechado
gerundechándome

📝 In Action

Al oír el chiste, no pude evitar echarme a reír.

B1

Upon hearing the joke, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Voy a echarme a correr todas las mañanas.

B1

I'm going to start running every morning.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • echarme a llorar – to burst into tears
  • echarme a reír – to burst out laughing

to fire meAlso: to throw me out

VerbA2regular ar
A person carrying a cardboard box away from a large office building.
infinitiveechar
past Participleechado
gerundechándome

📝 In Action

Si llego tarde otra vez, van a echarme.

A2

If I'm late again, they are going to fire me.

El guardia va a echarme si no tengo entrada.

A2

The guard is going to throw me out if I don't have a ticket.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • contratarme (to hire me)

Common Collocations

  • echarme del trabajo – to fire me from work
  • echarme de casa – to kick me out of the house

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yome eche
túte eches
él/ella/ustedse eche
nosotrosnos echemos
vosotrosos echéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesse echen

Imperfect Subjunctive

yome echara
túte echaras
él/ella/ustedse echara
nosotrosnos echáramos
vosotrosos echarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesse echaran

Indicative

Present

yome echo
túte echas
él/ella/ustedse echa
nosotrosnos echamos
vosotrosos echáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesse echan

Imperfect

yome echaba
túte echabas
él/ella/ustedse echaba
nosotrosnos echábamos
vosotrosos echabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesse echaban

Preterite

yome eché
túte echaste
él/ella/ustedse echó
nosotrosnos echamos
vosotrosos echasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesse echaron
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: echarme

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence means 'I am going to lie down'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
echar(to throw/put) — Verb
echado(lying down) — Adjective
despido(firing/dismissal) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes
darmequedarmellamarme
📚 Etymology

From the Latin word 'iactare', which means 'to throw' or 'to hurl'. Over time, it developed many meanings in Spanish, from physically throwing something to 'throwing oneself' down to rest.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: ejectPortuguese: echar

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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.