Inklingo

How to Say "fit" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “fit” is “quedaba” — use 'quedaba' (imperfect tense) when referring to how clothing looked on someone in the past, often focusing on appearance or style..

quedaba🔊B1

Use 'quedaba' (imperfect tense) when referring to how clothing looked on someone in the past, often focusing on appearance or style.

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quedan🔊B1

Use 'quedan' (present tense) to describe how clothing fits someone right now, focusing on whether it's the right size or style.

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quedara🔊B2

Use 'quedara' (imperfect subjunctive) when expressing doubt or uncertainty about how clothing would fit someone in a hypothetical past or future situation.

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quedó🔊A2

Use 'quedó' (preterite tense) to describe the final result of how clothing fit someone after trying it on or wearing it.

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sano🔊A1

Use 'sano' when 'fit' means healthy and in good physical condition.

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ataque🔊B1

Use 'ataque' for a sudden, short episode of an illness (like a coughing fit) or a strong emotion (like a fit of anger).

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entren🔊B2

Use 'entren' (present tense of 'caber') when asking or stating if something physically fits or can be contained within a specific space.

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numero🔊A2

Use 'número' specifically when referring to shoe or clothing size, often in a question.

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medida🔊B2

Use 'en gran medida' to translate 'largely' or 'to a great extent', indicating the degree to which something happened.

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English → Spanish

quedaba

keh-DAH-bah/keˈðaβa/

verbB1general
Use 'quedaba' (imperfect tense) when referring to how clothing looked on someone in the past, often focusing on appearance or style.
A small, simple character wearing an extremely large, bright red sweater that is many sizes too big. The sleeves dangle far past their fingertips, showing that the clothing did not fit correctly.

Examples

El sombrero le quedaba muy bien con su traje azul.

The hat looked very good (suited him/her) with his blue suit.

La ropa de niño me quedaba pequeña cuando tenía diez años.

The children's clothes fit me small when I was ten years old.

Use with 'Le' or 'Me'

When talking about how clothes fit, you almost always need an indirect pronoun: 'Me quedaba' (it fit me), 'Le quedaba' (it fit him/her). The subject is the clothing, not the person!

quedan

KAY-dahn/ˈkeðan/

verbB1general
Use 'quedan' (present tense) to describe how clothing fits someone right now, focusing on whether it's the right size or style.
A child's feet wearing a pair of blue shoes that are the correct size, demonstrating a perfect fit.

Examples

Las botas no les quedan bien, son muy estrechas.

The boots don't fit them well, they are too tight.

Estos colores siempre quedan fantásticos con tu tono de piel.

These colors always look fantastic with your skin tone.

Los nuevos uniformes les quedan un poco grandes.

The new uniforms are a little big on them.

Indirect Object Required

When talking about fitting/looking, you must include a pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les) to say who the item looks good/bad on. The item itself is the subject that 'quedan' must agree with.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Mistake: “Saying 'Las botas les queda bien' (singular verb for plural subject).”

Correction: Always make sure 'quedan' agrees with the clothes/item (plural) and not the person (indirect object pronoun). Correct: 'Las botas les quedan bien.'

quedara

/keh-DAH-rah//keˈðaɾa/

verbB2general
Use 'quedara' (imperfect subjunctive) when expressing doubt or uncertainty about how clothing would fit someone in a hypothetical past or future situation.
A person happily trying on a bright blue shirt that fits them perfectly, giving a satisfied thumbs-up gesture.

Examples

No estaba seguro de que la camisa le quedara bien.

I wasn't sure that the shirt would fit him well.

Si el color quedara muy oscuro, podemos cambiarlo.

If the color looked too dark, we could change it.

Era necesario que el corte de pelo quedara moderno.

It was necessary that the haircut looked modern.

Using 'quedar' like 'gustar'

When talking about fitting or suitability, 'quedar' often works like 'gustar' (to like), where the subject is the item, and the person is the indirect object: 'La falda me queda bien' (The skirt fits me well).

quedó

verbA2general
Use 'quedó' (preterite tense) to describe the final result of how clothing fit someone after trying it on or wearing it.

Examples

La chaqueta le quedó un poco grande.

The jacket fit him a little big (was a little big on him).

sano

SAH-noh/ˈsa.no/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'sano' when 'fit' means healthy and in good physical condition.
A smiling child happily jumping rope outdoors with great energy and vitality.

Examples

Después de la cirugía, el paciente está completamente sano.

After the surgery, the patient is completely healthy.

¿Estás sano? No te vi en clase ayer.

Are you well? I didn't see you in class yesterday.

Gender and Number Agreement

As an adjective, 'sano' must match the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun it describes: 'un chico sano' (a healthy boy), 'una chica sana' (a healthy girl).

Using 'sano' for 'tasty'

Mistake: “This food is sano.”

Correction: Use 'rico' or 'delicioso' for tasty. While 'sano' means healthy, it doesn't imply flavor.

ataque

/ah-TAH-keh//aˈtake/

nounB1general
Use 'ataque' for a sudden, short episode of an illness (like a coughing fit) or a strong emotion (like a fit of anger).
A child sitting on the floor, bent over and laughing uncontrollably, illustrating a fit or bout of emotion.

Examples

Le dio un ataque de tos en medio de la reunión.

He had a coughing fit in the middle of the meeting.

Tuvo un ataque de pánico antes de su presentación.

She had a panic attack before her presentation.

Después de escuchar el chiste, me dio un ataque de risa.

After hearing the joke, I had a laughing fit.

Using 'de' to Specify

To say what kind of 'fit' it is, you just add 'de' plus the noun describing it. For example, 'ataque de tos' (fit of coughing) or 'ataque de pánico' (fit of panic).

entren

EN-tren/ˈen.tɾen/

verbB2general
Use 'entren' (present tense of 'caber') when asking or stating if something physically fits or can be contained within a specific space.
A yellow square block placed perfectly inside a square hole in a blue container, showing that it fits.

Examples

Dudo que todos los muebles entren en esa habitación pequeña.

I doubt all the furniture will fit in that small room.

No creo que esos libros entren en la maleta.

I don't think those books will fit in the suitcase.

Doubt and Uncertainty

This meaning of 'entrar' often appears with verbs of doubt (like 'dudar' or 'no creer'), which require the special verb form 'entren' to show that the fitting is not a guaranteed fact.

numero

/NOO-meh-roh//ˈnu.me.ɾo/

nounA2general
Use 'número' specifically when referring to shoe or clothing size, often in a question.
A large, oversized blue boot placed right next to a tiny, miniature matching blue boot, illustrating size difference.

Examples

¿Qué número de zapato usas?

What shoe size do you wear?

Este pantalón es un número más pequeño.

These pants are one size smaller.

medida

meh-DEE-dah/meˈðiða/

nounB2general
Use 'en gran medida' to translate 'largely' or 'to a great extent', indicating the degree to which something happened.
A clear glass jar filled with blue liquid that reaches exactly up to a distinct horizontal limit line marked near the top of the jar.

Examples

El éxito fue en gran medida gracias a tu esfuerzo.

The success was largely (to a great extent) thanks to your effort.

Quiero un vestido hecho a la medida.

I want a custom-made (tailored to fit) dress.

En la medida de lo posible, evita los gastos innecesarios.

As far as possible (to the extent possible), avoid unnecessary expenses.

Fixed Phrases

'Medida' is often used in fixed phrases like 'a la medida' (custom-made) or 'en gran medida' (largely) that function almost like adverbs or adjectives.

Confusing 'A la medida'

Mistake: “Using 'por la medida' when you mean 'custom-made'.”

Correction: The correct preposition is 'a': 'un traje hecho a la medida' (a suit made to fit).

Confusing Clothing Fit Verbs

The most common mistake is confusing the various forms of 'quedar' (quedaba, quedan, quedó, quedara) when talking about clothing. Remember that 'quedan' is for the present, 'quedaba' describes how it looked in the past, and 'quedó' refers to the final result. 'Quedara' is used for uncertainty.

Related Translations

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