llena
“llena” means “full” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
full
Also: filled, crowded
📝 In Action
La taza está llena de café caliente.
A1The cup is full of hot coffee.
Tienes la nevera llena de comida.
A2You have the fridge filled with food.
Ella es una persona llena de alegría y energía.
B1She is a person full of joy and energy.
fills
Also: fill!, fills up
📝 In Action
Ella siempre llena el tanque de gasolina los lunes.
A2She always fills the gas tank on Mondays.
¡Llena la bañera rápido, el agua se está enfriando!
A2Fill the bathtub quickly, the water is getting cold!
Usted llena el formulario en la recepción.
B1You (formal) fill out the form at the reception desk.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: llena
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'llena' as a command?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin term *plenus*, meaning 'full.' Over time, the initial 'p' sound was lost and the 'l' merged with the vowel, eventually becoming the 'll' sound in Spanish.
First recorded: Around the 10th century in early Romance languages.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'llena' is an adjective or a verb?
Look at the word next to it. If it follows the verb 'estar' or 'ser' (e.g., 'está llena'), it is almost certainly the adjective describing the state of something. If it is the main verb of the sentence (e.g., 'Ella llena...'), it is the conjugation of 'llenar' (to fill).
Why is it spelled with 'll'?
The 'll' in Spanish usually represents a single sound, historically formed when the original Latin words had a double 'l' or when an 'l' combined with another sound. This spelling distinguishes the word and ensures the unique 'y' sound (or 'j' sound, depending on the region) is pronounced.