pagar
“pagar” means “to pay” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to pay
Also: to pay for
📝 In Action
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta de crédito?
A1Can I pay with a credit card?
Tengo que pagar el alquiler mañana.
A2I have to pay the rent tomorrow.
Yo pagué la cuenta la última vez, ahora te toca a ti.
A2I paid the bill last time, now it's your turn.
to pay for
Also: to atone for
📝 In Action
Tarde o temprano, vas a pagar por tus mentiras.
B1Sooner or later, you're going to pay for your lies.
Pagó su crimen con veinte años de prisión.
B2He paid for his crime with twenty years in prison.
¡Me las vas a pagar!
B2You're going to pay for this!
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "pagar" in Spanish:
to pay→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pagar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'pagar' in a figurative way (not about money)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'pacāre', which meant 'to pacify' or 'to appease'. The idea was that by paying a debt, you were making peace with the person you owed.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'pagar' and 'costar'?
'Pagar' is the action a person does (to pay), while 'costar' is what an item does (to cost). You would say, 'Yo pago veinte euros' (I pay twenty euros), but 'El libro cuesta veinte euros' (The book costs twenty euros).
When do I use 'pagar por' versus just 'pagar'?
It's simple! When you're talking about the item you bought, you usually don't need 'por': 'Pagué el café' (I paid for the coffee). You use 'por' to give a reason or a price: 'Pagué 2 euros por el café' (I paid 2 euros for the coffee) or 'Te pago por tu ayuda' (I'm paying you for your help).