tirar
“tirar” means “to throw” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to throw, to toss
Also: to discard, to knock down
📝 In Action
El niño no paraba de tirar la pelota.
A1The boy wouldn't stop throwing the ball.
Necesitas tirar esta caja vieja a la basura.
A2You need to throw this old box in the trash.
El viento tiró el árbol durante la tormenta.
B1The wind knocked down the tree during the storm.
to shoot, to take
Also: to fire
📝 In Action
El cazador tuvo que tirar para defenderse.
B1The hunter had to shoot to defend himself.
¿Puedes tirarme una foto con mi teléfono?
B1Can you take a picture of me with my phone?
El ladrón tiró al aire para asustarlos.
C1The thief shot into the air to scare them.
to throw oneself, to dive
Also: to jump, to go for it
📝 In Action
El clavadista se tiró a la piscina desde diez metros.
B1The diver threw himself into the pool from ten meters.
Después de la caminata, me tiré en el sofá.
B1After the walk, I threw myself down on the couch.
No te tires por esa pendiente, es peligroso.
B2Don't jump down that slope, it is dangerous.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tirar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'tirar' to mean 'to discard'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Vulgar Latin word *tīrāre*, which originally meant 'to draw' or 'to drag.' Over time, its meaning shifted dramatically in Spanish to mean the opposite: 'to hurl' or 'to throw.'
First recorded: 11th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'tirar' used for 'to pull' in all Spanish-speaking countries?
No. While 'tirar' can mean 'to pull' (especially in Spain, like 'tirar de la puerta'—to pull the door), in most of Latin America, people use 'jalar' or 'halar' for the action of pulling.
How do I know if 'tirar' means 'to throw' or 'to shoot'?
Context is key. If the object is a ball or trash, it means 'to throw.' If the object is a gun, a bullet, or the phrase is 'tirar una foto,' it refers to shooting or taking a picture.