lanzar
“lanzar” means “throw” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
throw, hurl
Also: toss, pitch
📝 In Action
El niño lanzó la pelota muy lejos.
A1The boy threw the ball very far.
Tenemos que lanzar el ancla antes de que empiece la tormenta.
B1We have to drop the anchor before the storm begins.
launch, release
Also: introduce, kick off
📝 In Action
La compañía va a lanzar su nuevo teléfono el próximo mes.
B1The company is going to launch its new phone next month.
El cohete se lanzó sin problemas desde la base.
B2The rocket launched without problems from the base.
issue, utter
Also: hurl (insults), raise
📝 In Action
El público lanzó un grito de alegría al ver al cantante.
B2The audience let out a cry of joy upon seeing the singer.
El director lanzó una advertencia severa a los empleados.
C1The director issued a severe warning to the employees.
dive in, take the plunge
Also: rush forward, go for it
📝 In Action
Decidió lanzarse al agua sin dudar.
A2She decided to jump into the water without hesitation.
Llevaba meses pensando en el negocio, y finalmente se lanzó.
B1He had been thinking about the business for months, and finally he took the plunge.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: lanzar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'lanzar' in its figurative business sense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Late Latin verb *lanceare*, which meant 'to wield a lance or spear.' The word evolved from the specific act of using a spear to the general act of throwing, and later, to launching new projects.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'lanzar' used for throwing away trash?
Not usually. While 'lanzar' means 'to throw,' for getting rid of garbage or something unwanted, you should use 'tirar' (tirar la basura) or 'echar' (echar a la basura).
Why does 'lanzar' change to 'lancé' in the past tense 'yo' form?
This is a common spelling rule for verbs ending in -zar. The 'z' sound must be written with a 'c' when it comes before the vowel 'e' or 'i' to keep the pronunciation consistent with the rest of the verb family. This only happens in a few specific conjugations.