Inklingo
Dictionary

pagarlo

pah-GAHR-lohpaˈɣaɾlo

“pagarlo” means “to pay for it” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to pay for itA1Verb

settling a bill or purchase

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to pay for itB2Verb

suffering the consequences of a mistake

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to pay for itAlso: to pay him

VerbA1regular (with spelling changes) ar
A hand handing over a gold coin to another hand in exchange for a loaf of bread.
gerundpagándolo
past Participlepagado
infinitivepagar

📝 In Action

Tengo el dinero para pagarlo.

A1

I have the money to pay for it.

Si compras el café, yo puedo pagarlo.

A2

If you buy the coffee, I can pay for it.

Este es el recibo, debes pagarlo pronto.

B1

This is the receipt; you must pay it soon.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • abonarlo (to pay/credit it)
  • cancelarlo (to settle/cancel a debt)

Antonyms

  • cobrarlo (to charge/collect it)

Common Collocations

  • pagarlo al contado – to pay for it in cash
  • pagarlo a plazos – to pay for it in installments

to pay for it

VerbB2regular (figurative) ar
A sad child standing next to a broken vase on the floor.
gerundpagándolo
past Participlepagado
infinitivepagar

📝 In Action

Hizo algo muy malo y va a pagarlo caro.

B2

He did something very bad and he is going to pay dearly for it.

Tarde o temprano tendrá que pagarlo.

B2

Sooner or later he will have to pay for it (face the consequences).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • expiar (to atone)

Common Collocations

  • pagarlo muy caro – to pay a high price for it (metaphorically)

Idioms & Expressions

  • El que la hace, la paga – What goes around comes around

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yopagara
túpagaras
él/ella/ustedpagara
nosotrospagáramos
vosotrospagarais
ellos/ellas/ustedespagaran

Present Subjunctive

yopague
túpagues
él/ella/ustedpague
nosotrospaguemos
vosotrospaguéis
ellos/ellas/ustedespaguen

Indicative

Preterite

yopagué
túpagaste
él/ella/ustedpagó
nosotrospagamos
vosotrospagasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedespagaron

Imperfect

yopagaba
túpagabas
él/ella/ustedpagaba
nosotrospagábamos
vosotrospagabais
ellos/ellas/ustedespagaban

Present

yopago
túpagas
él/ella/ustedpaga
nosotrospagamos
vosotrospagáis
ellos/ellas/ustedespagan
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pagarlo

Question 1 of 1

If you are at a restaurant and want to say 'I need to pay for it (the bill),' which is correct?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
pagar(to pay) — Verb
pago(payment) — Noun
pagador(payer) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes
darlohablarlo
📚 Etymology

From the Latin word 'pacare,' which meant 'to appease' or 'to make peace.' This evolved into the idea of 'making peace' with a creditor by giving them money.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: payFrench: payer

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'pagarlo' mean 'to pay her'?

No. 'Pagarlo' is specifically for 'it' or 'him.' To say 'pay her,' you would usually say 'pagarle.'

Why is there sometimes an accent on this word?

The word 'pagarlo' doesn't have an accent, but if you add another label like 'me' (to me), it becomes 'pagármelo' and needs an accent to keep the stress in the right place.