Inklingo

pagarlo

pah-GAHR-loh/paˈɣaɾlo/

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

to pay for it

Also: 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 contadoto pay for it in cash
  • pagarlo a plazosto 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 caroto pay a high price for it (metaphorically)

Idioms & Expressions

  • El que la hace, la pagaWhat goes around comes around

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

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

present

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

indicative

preterite

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

imperfect

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

present

ellos/ellas/ustedespagan
yopago
pagas
vosotrospagáis
nosotrospagamos
él/ella/ustedpaga

✏️ 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
🎵 Rhymes
📚 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.