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fregar

fre-GAHRfɾeˈɣaɾ

“fregar” means “to scrub” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to scrub, to wash dishes

Also: to mop
VerbA1stem-changing (e to ie) and spelling-changing ar
Spain
A wooden floor being scrubbed with a soapy brush and a bucket of water.
gerundfregando
past Participlefregado
infinitivefregar

📝 In Action

Siempre me toca fregar los platos después de cenar.

A1

It's always my turn to wash the dishes after dinner.

Tengo que fregar el suelo de la cocina porque está sucio.

A2

I have to mop/scrub the kitchen floor because it's dirty.

Ella friega las ollas con mucha fuerza.

B1

She scrubs the pots with a lot of strength.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • fregar los platos – to do the dishes
  • fregar el suelo – to mop/scrub the floor

to annoy, to mess up

Also: to bug
VerbB2stem-changing (e to ie) arinformal
MexicoColombia
A small buzzing fly circling around a person's head while they try to read.
gerundfregando
past Participlefregado
infinitivefregar

📝 In Action

¡No me friegues! Estoy tratando de trabajar.

B2

Don't bug me! I'm trying to work.

Ya la fregamos, perdimos las llaves.

B2

We've messed up now, we lost the keys.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • ¡No me vengas a fregar! – Don't come here to annoy me / Don't mess with me.

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yofregara
túfregaras
él/ella/ustedfregara
nosotrosfregáramos
vosotrosfregarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesfregaran

Present Subjunctive

yofriegue
túfriegues
él/ella/ustedfriegue
nosotrosfreguemos
vosotrosfreguéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesfrieguen

Indicative

Preterite

yofregué
túfregaste
él/ella/ustedfregó
nosotrosfregamos
vosotrosfregasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesfregaron

Imperfect

yofregaba
túfregabas
él/ella/ustedfregaba
nosotrosfregábamos
vosotrosfregabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesfregaban

Present

yofriego
túfriegas
él/ella/ustedfriega
nosotrosfregamos
vosotrosfregáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesfriegan
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "fregar" in Spanish:

to annoy→to bug→to mop→to scrub→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: fregar

Question 1 of 3

Which form of 'fregar' is correct for 'I scrub' (present tense)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
fregona(mop) — Noun
fregadero(kitchen sink) — Noun
fregado(mess / scrubbing) — Noun
fregaplatos(dishwasher (machine or person)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the Latin word 'fricare', which means 'to rub'. This is why we use it for cleaning things that need a good rub!

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: frictionPortuguese: fregar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does fregar always mean 'to mop'?

In Spain, it often does. In Latin America, people usually say 'trapear' for mopping and use 'fregar' specifically for dishes or scrubbing hard.

Is 'fregar' a rude word?

When it means 'to wash', it is completely neutral. When it means 'to annoy', it is informal but generally safe for use with friends. It is often used as a 'clean' version of much ruder swear words.

Can I use 'fregar' for washing my hair?

No, you should use 'lavar' or 'lavarse' for body parts and clothes. 'Fregar' is for surfaces that require friction/rubbing.