lleno
/yeh-noh/
full
The jar is completely full, illustrating the adjective "lleno" (full).
lleno(Adjective)
full
?when a container or space has no room left
covered
?e.g., 'lleno de barro' (covered in mud)
,stuffed
?feeling after eating a lot
📝 In Action
El vaso está lleno de agua.
A1The glass is full of water.
No puedo comer más, estoy lleno.
A1I can't eat anymore, I'm full.
El autobús va lleno de gente.
A2The bus is full of people.
Llegó con las manos llenas de regalos.
B1He arrived with his hands full of gifts.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
As a describing word, 'lleno' changes to match the thing it describes. Use 'llena' for feminine things, 'llenos' for plural masculine things, and 'llenas' for plural feminine things. (e.g., la botella llena, los vasos llenos).
Always Use 'Estar'
To say something 'is full', always use the verb 'estar' (e.g., El tanque está lleno). Using 'ser' is a common mistake because being full is a temporary state, not a permanent characteristic.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser' Instead of 'Estar'
Mistake: "El restaurante es lleno."
Correction: El restaurante está lleno. Think of 'full' as a temporary condition. The restaurant could be empty later, so we use 'estar'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing 'Full Of...'
The phrase 'lleno de...' is your go-to for saying 'full of...'. For example, 'una vida llena de aventuras' (a life full of adventures).
A theater with every seat taken is a "lleno" (full house).
lleno(Noun)
full house
?at a theater, stadium, or event
capacity crowd
?when a venue is sold out
📝 In Action
Hubo un lleno absoluto en el estadio para la final.
B2There was a complete full house at the stadium for the final.
El teatro registró un lleno todas las noches.
C1The theater had a full house every night.
⭐ Usage Tips
Event Context
You'll almost always hear 'el lleno' when people talk about tickets sold for concerts, plays, or sports matches. The phrase 'lleno total' is very common to emphasize it was completely sold out.
The action of pouring water into the glass illustrates the verb form 'I fill' (Yo lleno).
📝 In Action
Yo lleno la botella de agua antes de salir.
A2I fill the water bottle before leaving.
Si me das el formulario, lo lleno ahora mismo.
B1If you give me the form, I'll fill it out right now.
💡 Grammar Points
This is from 'Llenar'
'Lleno' is the present-tense 'I' form of the verb 'llenar' (to fill). So, 'yo lleno' means 'I fill'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Verb vs. Adjective
Mistake: "Yo estoy lleno el vaso. (Mixing 'I am full' with 'fill the glass')"
Correction: Yo lleno el vaso (I fill the glass) OR El vaso está lleno (The glass is full). Remember, one is an action you do, the other describes how something is.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: lleno
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'I fill the glass'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you say 'El vaso está lleno' and not 'El vaso es lleno'?
Great question! This is about two different ways of saying 'is' in Spanish. We use 'estar' ('está') for temporary states or conditions. A glass can be full now but empty later, so its fullness is a temporary state. We use 'ser' ('es') for more permanent characteristics, like 'El vaso es de vidrio' (The glass is made of glass).