lanzó
“lanzó” means “threw” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
threw, launched
Also: tossed, hurl
📝 In Action
El niño lanzó la pelota al perro.
A1The boy threw the ball to the dog.
Ella no se dio cuenta y lanzó el teléfono a la piscina.
A2She didn't realize and tossed the phone into the pool.
El presidente lanzó un nuevo programa de becas la semana pasada.
B1The president launched a new scholarship program last week.
uttered, let out
Also: issued
📝 In Action
El prisionero lanzó un grito de desesperación.
B2The prisoner let out a cry of desperation.
La oposición lanzó fuertes críticas contra el gobierno.
C1The opposition issued strong criticism against the government.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: lanzó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'lanzó' to mean 'to release a product'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Old Spanish word 'lançar', likely derived from a Germanic root, possibly related to the word for a lance or spear, emphasizing the action of thrusting or hurling something forward.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish period (c. 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'lanzó' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is required because 'lanzó' is a past tense verb ending in a vowel ('o') and the stress falls on that final syllable. This is a standard rule for most Spanish verbs in the simple past tense (preterite) for the third person singular.
How is 'lanzó' different from 'tiró' (from 'tirar')?
Both mean 'threw,' but 'lanzó' often implies more force, direction, or purpose, especially in formal contexts like launching a product or a rocket. 'Tiró' is often used for casual or light throwing, or sometimes for throwing something away.