How to Say "lying down" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “lying down” is “acostado” — use 'acostado' to describe a person who is in a horizontal position, typically in a bed or on a piece of furniture for resting or sleeping.
acostado
ah-kohs-TAH-doha.kosˈta.ðo
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.)
tumbado
toom-BAH-dohtumˈbaðo
Examples
Después del trabajo, me quedé tumbado en el sofá.
After work, I stayed lying down on the sofa.
El gato está tumbado al sol en la terraza.
The cat is lying in the sun on the terrace.
No puedes estar todo el día tumbada sin hacer nada.
You can't be lying down all day doing nothing.
Using with 'Estar'
Always use the verb 'estar' (to be) with this word because it describes a temporary physical position or state.
Matching Gender
The word changes its ending based on who is lying down. Use 'tumbado' for a man and 'tumbada' for a woman.
Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar'
Mistake: “Soy tumbado.”
Correction: Estoy tumbado. (Because being lying down is a temporary state, not a permanent personality trait.)
echado
eh-CHAH-doheˈt͡ʃa.ðo
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-dohtiˈɾa.ðo
Examples
Encontraron el coche tirado en la zanja después del accidente.
They found the car thrown/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, and Casual vs. Formal
Related Translations
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