suelta
/SWEL-tah/
releases
Suelta means 'releases' (he/she/it).
suelta(Verb (Conjugated Form))
releases
?He/She/It releases (present tense)
,lets go
?He/She/It lets go (present tense)
Let go!
?Informal command (tú)
,drops
?He/She/It drops
📝 In Action
Mi hermana suelta a su gato solo los fines de semana.
A2My sister releases her cat only on the weekends.
¡Suelta el juguete, es mío!
A1Let go of the toy, it's mine!
Cuando ella habla, suelta frases muy sabias.
B1When she speaks, she lets out very wise phrases (figurative).
💡 Grammar Points
The O > UE Change
Notice how the 'o' in the middle of the verb 'soltar' changes to 'ue' (suelta) in most present tenses, except for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Él solta la cuerda."
Correction: Él suelta la cuerda. (Remember the 'ue' sound in the present tense!)
⭐ Usage Tips
Quick Command
The 'tú' command form ('¡Suelta!') is identical to the 'él/ella/usted' present tense form, making it very easy to remember for urgent situations.
As a noun, suelta means 'change' (small coins).
📝 In Action
¿Me puede dar la suelta en monedas de un euro?
B1Can you give me the change in one-euro coins?
Perdí mi cartera, pero solo tenía un poco de suelta.
B1I lost my wallet, but it only had a little loose change.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun
Since 'suelta' is a feminine noun, you must use feminine words like 'la' or 'una' before it: 'la suelta'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Noun and Verb
Mistake: "El suelta es importante para el bus. (Using the masculine article 'el')"
Correction: La suelta es importante para el bus. (Always use 'la' when referring to money/change.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Specific Context
While 'cambio' also means change, 'suelta' specifically refers to the small coins or bills you carry loose, often to pay for small things.
Suelta means 'loose' or 'baggy' when describing clothing.
📝 In Action
La ropa de verano siempre es más suelta.
B1Summer clothes are always looser.
Mi perra estaba suelta en el jardín.
A2My female dog was loose (unleashed) in the garden.
Me gusta la actitud suelta de la gente de aquí.
B2I like the free/easygoing attitude of the people here.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching Gender
As an adjective, 'suelta' must always agree with the feminine noun it describes. If the noun were masculine (like 'el pantalón'), you would use 'suelto'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Adjective or Verb?
To know if 'suelta' is an adjective or a verb, look at the sentence structure. If it follows 'ser' or 'estar' (like 'está suelta'), it is describing a state (adjective). If it follows a subject and means 'releases' (like 'ella suelta'), it is the action (verb).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: suelta
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'suelta' as a noun (meaning money)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'suelta' (noun) and 'cambio' (noun)?
'Cambio' is the general word for change, both the money you receive back and the act of changing something. 'Suelta' specifically refers to the small coins or bills you carry loose in your pocket or purse, often implying small denominations.
How do I know if 'suelta' means 'loose' (adjective) or 'releases' (verb)?
If it follows a form of the verb 'estar' or 'ser' (like 'está suelta'), it is describing a state or quality (adjective). If it follows a person or thing doing an action (like 'El niño suelta el globo'), it is the verb 'to release'.