liquidar

lee-kee-dahrlikiˈðar

“liquidar” means “to settle” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

to settle🔊B1Verb

paying off a debt or bill completely

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to clear out🔊B2Verb

selling items at a discount to get rid of stock

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to take out🔊C1Verb

to kill or eliminate someone

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to settle

Also: to pay off

VerbB1regular ar

A hand placing a final gold coin onto a stack of coins on a wooden table.

gerundliquidando

past Participleliquidado

infinitiveliquidar

📝 In Action

Por fin pudimos liquidar la hipoteca de la casa.

We were finally able to pay off the mortgage on the house.

Debes liquidar tu cuenta antes de irte.

You must settle your account before leaving.

La empresa liquidó todas sus deudas pendientes.

The company settled all its outstanding debts.

Word Connections

Synonyms

cancelar (to cancel/pay off)
saldar (to settle a balance)

Antonyms

adeudar (to owe)

Common Collocations

liquidar una deuda – to settle a debt
liquidar una cuenta – to settle an account

to clear out

Also: to sell off

VerbB2

A large wooden crate filled with toys and clothes with a bright yellow tag attached to it.

📝 In Action

Están liquidando toda la ropa de invierno.

They are clearing out all the winter clothes.

La tienda cierra y tiene que liquidar sus existencias.

The shop is closing and has to sell off its stock.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

liquidar por cierre – closing down sale
liquidar existencias – to clear out stock

to take out

Also: to finish off

VerbC1informal

A single chess king piece lying knocked over on a checkered board.

📝 In Action

En la película, el espía liquidó al villano.

In the movie, the spy took out the villain.

Nuestro equipo liquidó al rival en la primera parte.

Our team finished off the rival in the first half.

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoliquidara

túliquidaras

él/ella/ustedliquidara

nosotrosliquidáramos

vosotrosliquidarais

ellos/ellas/ustedesliquidaran

Present Subjunctive

yoliquide

túliquides

él/ella/ustedliquide

nosotrosliquidemos

vosotrosliquidéis

ellos/ellas/ustedesliquiden

Indicative

Preterite

yoliquidé

túliquidaste

él/ella/ustedliquidó

nosotrosliquidamos

vosotrosliquidasteis

ellos/ellas/ustedesliquidaron

Imperfect

yoliquidaba

túliquidabas

él/ella/ustedliquidaba

nosotrosliquidábamos

vosotrosliquidabais

ellos/ellas/ustedesliquidaban

Present

yoliquido

túliquidas

él/ella/ustedliquida

nosotrosliquidamos

vosotrosliquidáis

ellos/ellas/ustedesliquidan

View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "liquidar" in Spanish:

to settle→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: liquidar

Question 1 of 3

If a store has a sign saying 'Liquidación por cierre', what is happening?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

liquidación(liquidation / sale) — Noun

líquido(liquid / net amount) — Noun

liquidez(liquidity (cash availability)) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

olvidar cuidar

📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'liquidare', which means to make something clear or fluid. Over time, it came to mean 'clearing' a debt so the situation is no longer 'muddy'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: liquidateFrench: liquider

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'pagar' and 'liquidar'?

'Pagar' just means to pay. You can pay a part of a bill. 'Liquidar' means to pay the whole thing off so that the balance is zero.

Is 'liquidar' used for people?

Only in slang or crime contexts, where it means 'to kill' or 'to eliminate'. Use it carefully!

How do you say 'clearance sale' in Spanish using this word?

You usually use the noun form: 'Liquidación'.