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llenar

yeh-NAHR/ʎeˈnaɾ/

to fill

Also: to pour, to stock
VerbA1regular ar
A hand pouring water from a pitcher into a clear glass jar until the jar is completely full, with the water reaching the brim.
infinitivellenar
gerundllenando
past Participlellenado

📝 In Action

Necesitas llenar el tanque de gasolina antes de viajar.

A1

You need to fill the gas tank before traveling.

La camarera llenó mi taza de café otra vez.

A1

The waitress filled my coffee cup again.

Vamos a llenar la piscina con agua de la manguera.

A2

We are going to fill the pool with water from the hose.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • replegar (to refill)
  • colmar (to fill to the brim)

Antonyms

  • vaciar (to empty)
  • desocupar (to vacate)

Common Collocations

  • llenar una botella – to fill a bottle
  • llenar el frigorífico – to stock the fridge

to fill out

Also: to complete
VerbA2regular ar
A hand holding a pen is actively filling in blank lines on a simple document or form.
infinitivellenar
gerundllenando
past Participlellenado

📝 In Action

¿Podría llenar este formulario de inscripción, por favor?

A2

Could you fill out this registration form, please?

Debes llenar todos los campos con tu información personal.

B1

You must fill in all the fields with your personal information.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • rellenar (to fill in/refill)
  • cumplimentar (to complete (formal))

Common Collocations

  • llenar una solicitud – to fill out an application
  • llenar un cuestionario – to complete a questionnaire

to fill, to satisfy

Also: to take up
VerbB1regular ar
An extremely large, fluffy cat completely occupies and fills the entire seat of a comfortable armchair.
infinitivellenar
gerundllenando
past Participlellenado

📝 In Action

La tristeza llenó su corazón después de la noticia.

B1

Sadness filled her heart after the news.

Su voz potente llenó el teatro entero.

B1

His powerful voice filled the entire theater.

Este pequeño trabajo me ayuda a llenar el tiempo libre.

B2

This little job helps me fill my free time.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • llenar un vacío – to fill a void
  • llenar las expectativas – to meet expectations

to become full, to get crowded

Also: to get covered in
VerbA2regular (reflexive) ar
Mexico
A transparent cookie jar is completely full, stacked high with colorful cookies up to the lid.
infinitivellenarse
gerundllenándose
past Participlellenado

📝 In Action

El restaurante se llenó rápidamente después de las siete.

A2

The restaurant became full quickly after seven.

Si no tienes cuidado, te vas a llenar de arena en la playa.

B1

If you are not careful, you are going to get covered in sand at the beach.

Me llené de energía después de la siesta.

B2

I filled up with energy after the nap.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • saturarse (to become saturated)
  • abarrotarse (to get packed/crowded)

Common Collocations

  • llenarse de gente – to get crowded with people
  • llenarse de polvo – to get covered in dust

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedllena
yolleno
túllenas
ellos/ellas/ustedesllenan
nosotrosllenamos
vosotrosllenáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedllenaba
yollenaba
túllenabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesllenaban
nosotrosllenábamos
vosotrosllenabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedllenó
yollené
túllenaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesllenaron
nosotrosllenamos
vosotrosllenasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedllene
yollene
túllenes
ellos/ellas/ustedesllenen
nosotrosllenemos
vosotrosllenéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedllenara
yollenara
túllenaras
ellos/ellas/ustedesllenaran
nosotrosllenáramos
vosotrosllenarais
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "llenar" in Spanish:

to complete→to fill→to pour→to satisfy→to stock→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: llenar

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'llenar' in its figurative sense (B1)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb *plenare*, which itself is derived from the adjective *plenus*, meaning 'full.' The initial 'p' sound shifted to 'll' in Spanish, a common pattern.

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: empirePortuguese: encher

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Frequently Asked Questions

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'llenar' y 'rellenar'?

'Llenar' means to fill something that is empty (like a glass). 'Rellenar' means to fill something again (to refill a glass) or to fill in missing spaces (like filling out a form or adding stuffing to food).

Does 'llenar' always require the preposition 'con' (with)?

Not always, but often. If you state what you are filling the container *with*, you use 'con' (Llenar la taza con té). However, if you use the reflexive form 'llenarse,' you use 'de' (El ambiente se llenó de música).