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How to Say "lying down" in Spanish

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acostado

ah-kohs-TAH-doh/a.kosˈta.ðo/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'acostado' when describing a person who is in a lying down position, usually in a bed or on a piece of furniture for rest or sleep.
A colorful, simple storybook illustration showing a person lying flat on their back on a patch of green grass, looking relaxed.

Examples

Mi padre está acostado en el sofá viendo la tele.

My father is lying down on the sofa watching TV.

¿Por qué estás acostado tan temprano? ¿Te sientes mal?

Why are you in bed so early? Do you feel sick?

Dejó la botella acostada para que no se secara el corcho.

He left the bottle lying down so the cork wouldn't dry out.

State vs. Action

Use 'estar acostado' to describe the current state of being (the position). This is different from the action of 'acostarse' (to lie down, to go to bed).

Agreement

Like all Spanish adjectives, 'acostado' must match the person or thing it describes: 'acostada' (f. sing.), 'acostados' (m. plural), 'acostadas' (f. plural).

Using Ser Instead of Estar

Mistake: “Mi perro es acostado.”

Correction: Mi perro está acostado. (Use 'estar' because 'lying down' is a temporary position or state, not a permanent characteristic.)

echado

eh-CHAH-doh/eˈt͡ʃa.ðo/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'echado' primarily for animals resting or lying down, often in a relaxed posture, or for people in a more casual, sprawled-out position.
A brown dog lying completely flat on its side on a bright green grassy hill, resting peacefully.

Examples

El gato siempre está echado al sol en la ventana.

The cat is always lying down in the sun on the window.

Después de la comida, mi abuelo se queda echado en el sillón.

After lunch, my grandfather stays stretched out on the armchair.

Using 'Echado' as an Adjective

When used to describe how someone is positioned, 'echado' must match the person or thing you're describing in gender and number: echado (m. singular), echada (f. singular), echados (m. plural), echadas (f. plural).

Estar vs. Ser

Always use 'estar' (to be, temporary state) with this meaning, as it describes the current position: 'El niño está echado' (The boy is lying down).

Agreement Error

Mistake: “La niña está echado.”

Correction: La niña está echada. Remember to match the ending to the subject: '-a' for feminine, '-o' for masculine.

tirado

tee-RAH-doh/tiˈɾa.ðo/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'tirado' to describe something (often inanimate, like an object or vehicle) that is lying or resting flat on a surface, sometimes implying it was dropped or ended up there unintentionally.
A cartoon dog lying completely flat on its back on the grass, resting.

Examples

Encontraron el coche tirado en la zanja después del accidente.

They found the car lying in the ditch after the accident.

El bebé se quedó tirado en el suelo jugando con sus bloques.

The baby stayed lying down on the floor playing with his blocks.

Origin from 'Tirar'

'Tirado' is the past participle of the verb 'tirar' (to throw, to cast). Here it describes the result of that action: the state of being thrown or lying there.

People vs. Animals vs. Objects

The most common mistake is using 'acostado' for animals or objects. Remember, 'acostado' is almost exclusively for people resting. For animals, 'echado' is more common, and for objects, 'tirado' is often used when they are left lying somewhere.

Related Translations

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