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meter

meh-TEHR/meˈteɾ/

to put, to insert

Also: to put in, to shove
VerbA1regular er
A cartoon hand gently placing a brightly colored toy block completely inside an open wooden box.
infinitivemeter
gerundmetiendo
past Participlemetido

📝 In Action

Mete la llave en la cerradura antes de girarla.

A1

Put the key in the lock before turning it.

Siempre meto mis libros en la mochila cuando termino la clase.

A1

I always put my books in my backpack when I finish class.

El técnico tuvo que meter un cable nuevo por la pared.

A2

The technician had to run a new cable through the wall.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • poner (to put)
  • introducir (to introduce/insert)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • meter la mano – to reach in (with your hand)
  • meter la pata – to put your foot in your mouth (make a mistake)

to get involved, to meddle

Also: to butt in, to join
VerbB1regular erneutral/informal
A stylized drawing of a person stepping across a dashed line to join two other figures who are actively working on assembling a large, colorful jigsaw puzzle.
infinitivemeterse
gerundmetiéndose
past Participlemetido

📝 In Action

No te metas en mis problemas, por favor.

B1

Don't get involved in my problems, please.

Ella se metió a estudiar medicina el año pasado.

B2

She started studying medicine last year. (She 'got into' studying it.)

¿Por qué siempre te tienes que meter en lo que no te importa?

B2

Why do you always have to butt into what doesn't concern you?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • involucrarse (to involve oneself)
  • interferir (to interfere)

Antonyms

  • apartarse (to step aside)

to score, to invest

Also: to inject, to upload
VerbB2regular er
Spain
A bright soccer ball flying through the air and just entering the white netting of a soccer goal.
infinitivemeter
gerundmetiendo
past Participlemetido

📝 In Action

El delantero logró meter un gol en el último minuto.

B2

The striker managed to score a goal in the last minute.

Vamos a meter todo nuestro esfuerzo en este proyecto.

B2

We are going to put all our effort into this project.

Metieron varios millones de dólares en la nueva empresa.

C1

They invested several million dollars in the new company.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • meter un gol – to score a goal
  • meter presión – to apply pressure

🔄 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 →

🔀 Commonly Confused With

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: meter

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses the reflexive form 'meterse' correctly?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
metedura(blunder, mistake) — Noun
inmersión(immersion) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb *mittere*, which originally meant 'to send' or 'to throw.' Over time, in Spanish, the meaning shifted to 'to put' or 'to introduce,' focusing on the destination of the action rather than just the sending.

First recorded: Around the 10th century in early Romance languages.

Cognates (Related words)

French: mettreItalian: mettere

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is 'meter' different from 'poner'?

'Poner' means 'to place' or 'to set down' and is more general. 'Meter' specifically means 'to put something inside something else'—it emphasizes the depth or containment. If you put your keys *on* the table, use 'poner'. If you put your keys *inside* your pocket, use 'meter'.

What is the common meaning of the idiom 'meter la pata'?

Literally 'to put the paw/foot in,' it means 'to mess up,' 'to blunder,' or 'to put your foot in your mouth' by saying something inappropriate or incorrect.