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saldar

sal-dar/salˈdaɾ/

“saldar” means “to pay off” in Spanish (debts or accounts).

to pay off, to settle

Also: to liquidate, to conclude
VerbB1regular ar
Spain
A hand placing a final coin into a large ceramic piggy bank to signify settling a debt.
gerundsaldando
past Participlesaldado
infinitivesaldar

📝 In Action

Necesito saldar mi deuda con el banco este mes.

B1

I need to pay off my debt with the bank this month.

La tienda va a saldar toda la ropa de verano.

B1

The store is going to sell off all the summer clothes.

El equipo saldó el encuentro con una victoria.

B2

The team settled the match with a victory.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • adeudar (to owe)
  • endeudarse (to get into debt)

Common Collocations

  • saldar una deuda – to settle a debt
  • saldar cuentas – to settle accounts (can be literal or figurative)
  • saldar con una victoria – to end with a victory

Idioms & Expressions

  • saldar cuentas pendientes – to resolve old issues or get revenge

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedessaldaran
yosaldara
túsaldaras
vosotrossaldarais
nosotrossaldáramos
él/ella/ustedsaldara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedessalden
yosalde
túsaldes
vosotrossaldéis
nosotrossaldemos
él/ella/ustedsalde

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedessaldaron
yosaldé
túsaldaste
vosotrossaldasteis
nosotrossaldamos
él/ella/ustedsaldó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedessaldaban
yosaldaba
túsaldabas
vosotrossaldabais
nosotrossaldábamos
él/ella/ustedsaldaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedessaldan
yosaldo
túsaldas
vosotrossaldáis
nosotrossaldamos
él/ella/ustedsalda
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "saldar" in Spanish:

to conclude→to liquidate→to settle→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: saldar

Question 1 of 3

If you 'saldar una deuda,' what are you doing?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
saldo(balance/remainder) — Noun
saldado(paid off/settled) — Adjective
liquidación(liquidation/sale) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish word 'saldo' (balance), which comes from the Italian 'saldo,' originally from the Latin 'solidus' meaning 'solid' or 'whole.' The idea is to make the account whole or solid.

First recorded: 17th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: solidFrench: solder

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'saldar' the same as 'pagar'?

Not exactly. 'Pagar' is generic (to pay), while 'saldar' specifically implies completing a payment so that the debt is fully cleared.

Can I use 'saldar' for revenge?

Yes, 'saldar cuentas' is a common idiom meaning to settle a score or old grudge with someone.

Is 'saldar' formal?

It is slightly more formal than 'pagar,' but it is used every day in banking and news.