How to Say "throw!" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “throw!” is “tira” — use 'tira' when giving an informal command (tú form) to 'throw!' something, especially in everyday contexts like playing with a pet or tossing an object..
tira
TEE-rah/ˈti.ɾa/
Examples
¡Tira la pelota!
Throw the ball!
Ella siempre tira la pelota para que el perro corra.
She always throws the ball so the dog can run.
¡Tira esa botella a la basura!
Throw that bottle in the trash!
El motor tira mucho humo cuando arranca.
The engine gives off a lot of smoke when it starts.
Imperative Form
The word 'tira' is the command form for 'tú' (you, informal). Use it when telling a friend to throw or pull something: '¡Tira la puerta!' (Pull the door!).
Throwing vs. Taking Off
Mistake: “Using 'tirar' when you mean 'to take off' clothes (Quiero tirar mi chaqueta).”
Correction: Use 'quitarse' or 'sacarse' for clothes. 'Quiero quitarme mi chaqueta.' (I want to take off my jacket).
lanza
LAHN-sah/ˈlanθa/ (Spain) /s/ / (Latin America)
Examples
¡Lanza el cuchillo con cuidado!
Throw the knife carefully!
Ella lanza la pelota muy alto.
She throws the ball very high.
La empresa lanza su nueva aplicación mañana.
The company launches its new application tomorrow.
¡Lanza el anzuelo al agua!
Throw the hook into the water!
The Z-C Spelling Rule
To keep the 'z' sound consistent in Spanish, the letter 'z' must change to 'c' whenever it is followed by the vowel 'e'. This happens in the 'yo' preterite ('lancé') and the entire present subjunctive (e.g., 'que yo lance').
Informal vs. Formal 'Throw!'
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