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mete

MEH-teh/ˈme.te/

puts, insert

Also: shoves, places inside
VerbA1regular er
A child is carefully placing a small, red toy block into a larger, open blue box.
infinitivemeter
gerundmetiendo
past Participlemetido

📝 In Action

Ella siempre mete el dinero en el bolsillo.

A1

She always puts the money in her pocket.

¡Mete la basura en el contenedor!

A2

Put the trash in the container!

Usted mete mucha presión en el equipo.

B1

You (formal) put a lot of pressure on the team.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • introducir (to introduce/insert)
  • colocar (to place)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • meter la pata – to put one's foot in one's mouth (make a mistake)
  • meter ruido – to make noise

scores

Also: nets
VerbB1regular er
A white and black soccer ball is shown right after it has entered the back of a soccer net, indicating a goal was scored.
infinitivemeter
gerundmetiendo
past Participlemetido

📝 In Action

El delantero mete el gol de la victoria en el último minuto.

B1

The striker scores the winning goal in the last minute.

Si no mete esa canasta, pierden el partido.

B2

If he doesn't score that basket, they lose the game.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • anotar (to score)
  • marcar (to mark/score)

interferes, gets into

Also: butts in
VerbB2regular erinformal
A colorful illustration showing two people shaking hands, while a third person aggressively pushes their arm between the clasped hands, disrupting the interaction.
infinitivemeter
gerundmetiendo
past Participlemetido

📝 In Action

Él siempre mete cizaña entre sus amigos.

B2

He always sows discord (causes trouble) among his friends.

No te metas en mis asuntos. (Using reflexive 'meterse')

B2

Don't butt into my business. (Literal: Don't put yourself into my affairs)

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • entrometerse (to meddle)
  • inmiscuirse (to interfere)

Common Collocations

  • meterse en líos – to get into trouble

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedmete
yometo
túmetes
ellos/ellas/ustedesmeten
nosotrosmetemos
vosotrosmetéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedmetía
yometía
túmetías
ellos/ellas/ustedesmetían
nosotrosmetíamos
vosotrosmetíais

preterite

él/ella/ustedmetió
yometí
túmetiste
ellos/ellas/ustedesmetieron
nosotrosmetimos
vosotrosmetisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedmeta
yometa
túmetas
ellos/ellas/ustedesmetan
nosotrosmetamos
vosotrosmetáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedmetiera
yometiera
túmetieras
ellos/ellas/ustedesmetieran
nosotrosmetiéramos
vosotrosmetierais
View All Tenses & Moods →

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: mete

Question 1 of 2

Which of these sentences uses 'mete' as an informal command?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
meter(to put in, insert) — Verb
metido(stuck, involved) — Adjective
la metida(the insertion, the act of putting in) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin verb *mittere*, which meant 'to send' or 'to throw.' Over time, in Spanish, the meaning shifted from 'sending' or 'throwing' to 'putting something inside' or 'inserting it.'

First recorded: Old Spanish (around 13th century)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: mettereFrench: mettre

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'mete' and 'pone'?

'Pone' (from 'poner') means to place something generally (on a table, on the floor). 'Mete' (from 'meter') means to place something *inside* or *into* a container or space (a pocket, a box, a hole). If the object is entering something, use 'mete'.

Does 'mete' always refer to 'he/she/it'?

No. 'Mete' refers to three possible subjects: 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), 'usted' (you formal), AND the informal command 'tú' (you).