Inklingo

How to Say "to fire" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to fire” is “despedir” — use 'despedir' when formally dismissing someone from their job or employment.

despedir🔊B2

Use 'despedir' when formally dismissing someone from their job or employment.

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echar🔊B1

Use 'echar' informally to mean dismissing someone from a job or expelling them from a place, often with a sense of being thrown out.

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botar🔊B1

Use 'botar' informally to mean firing someone from their job, similar to 'echar' but perhaps with a stronger sense of being thrown out.

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largar🔊B2

Use 'largar' to dismiss someone from a job, often implying they are being let go abruptly or rudely. It can also mean to spill secrets.

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disparar🔊A2

Use 'disparar' specifically when referring to firing a gun or projectile weapon.

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tirar🔊B1

Use 'tirar' in the context of firing a weapon, often implying a more general action of shooting or throwing.

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hornear🔊A2

Use 'hornear' for the act of baking or hardening something, like pottery or cookies, in an oven or kiln; it is not related to employment or shooting.

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English → Spanish

despedir

des-peh-DEERdes.peˈðiɾ

verbB2formal
Use 'despedir' when formally dismissing someone from their job or employment.
A stern manager stands opposite a sad employee who is holding a small cardboard box containing their personal items.

Examples

Despidieron a Juan por llegar tarde todos los días.

They fired Juan for being late every day.

El jefe me dijo que si no mejoro, me despide.

The boss told me that if I don't improve, he will fire me.

Stem-Changing Verb

In many forms (like 'yo despido'), the 'e' in the stem changes to 'i'. This is a common pattern for 'ir' verbs like 'pedir' (to ask) and 'servir' (to serve).

echar

eh-CHAReˈt͡ʃaɾ

verbB1informal
Use 'echar' informally to mean dismissing someone from a job or expelling them from a place, often with a sense of being thrown out.
A sad person stands outside a closed door labeled 'Office', holding a small cardboard box with a plant, symbolizing dismissal.

Examples

Lo echaron del trabajo por llegar tarde todos los días.

They fired him from the job for arriving late every day.

Si sigues haciendo ruido, te van a echar de la biblioteca.

If you keep making noise, they are going to kick you out of the library.

Usage with Reflexive Pronouns

When used with a reflexive pronoun (like 'me echaron'), it often implies 'I was the one who was fired' or 'They threw me out.'

botar

bo-TARboˈtaɾ

verbB1informal
Use 'botar' informally to mean firing someone from their job, similar to 'echar' but perhaps with a stronger sense of being thrown out.
An empty office desk with a cardboard box full of personal items like a plant and a mug.

Examples

Lo botaron del trabajo por llegar tarde.

They fired him from work for being late.

Si sigues haciendo ruido, te van a botar de la biblioteca.

If you keep making noise, they are going to kick you out of the library.

Use 'Despedir' for Formality

largar

lar-GARlarˈɣar

verbB2informal
Use 'largar' to dismiss someone from a job, often implying they are being let go abruptly or rudely. It can also mean to spill secrets.
A person whispering into another person's ear, representing sharing a secret.

Examples

No me puedo creer que lo largaras todo a la policía.

I can't believe you spilled everything to the police.

Si no trabajas bien, el jefe te va a largar.

If you don't work well, the boss is going to fire you.

Empezó a largar chistes sin parar.

He started cracking jokes non-stop.

Action vs. Result

When used for speaking, 'largar' implies that the words came out quickly or without much filter.

Too Formal?

Mistake: “El presidente largó un discurso.”

Correction: Use 'dio' or 'pronunció'. 'Largó' sounds too informal for a president's official speech unless you're being critical.

disparar

dis-pah-RAHRdis.paˈɾaɾ

verbA2
Use 'disparar' specifically when referring to firing a gun or projectile weapon.
A storybook illustration showing an archer releasing an arrow from a wooden bow toward a distant target.

Examples

El cazador tuvo que disparar dos veces.

The hunter had to shoot twice.

No puedes disparar un arma sin permiso.

You cannot fire a weapon without permission.

Direct Action Verb

In this sense, 'disparar' is a transitive verb, meaning it needs a direct object (the thing being shot), like 'disparar la flecha' (to shoot the arrow).

Confusing 'Disparar' and 'Lanzar'

Mistake: “Using 'disparar' for throwing something by hand (e.g., 'disparar una pelota').”

Correction: Use 'lanzar' or 'tirar' for throwing by hand. 'Disparar' implies a mechanical force or rapid propulsion, usually from a device.

tirar

tee-RAHRtiˈɾaɾ

verbB1
Use 'tirar' in the context of firing a weapon, often implying a more general action of shooting or throwing.
A simple illustration of an arrow hitting the center bullseye of a circular target attached to a hay bale.

Examples

El cazador tuvo que tirar para defenderse.

The hunter had to shoot to defend himself.

¿Puedes tirarme una foto con mi teléfono?

Can you take a picture of me with my phone?

El ladrón tiró al aire para asustarlos.

The thief shot into the air to scare them.

Photo Usage

In many regions, 'tomar una foto' or 'sacar una foto' is more universally understood for taking pictures, but 'tirar una foto' is very common in places like Mexico and Central America.

hornear

or-neh-aroɾneˈaɾ

verbA2
Use 'hornear' for the act of baking or hardening something, like pottery or cookies, in an oven or kiln; it is not related to employment or shooting.
A tray of golden-brown cookies being taken out of a warm kitchen oven.

Examples

Me gusta hornear galletas los domingos.

I like to bake cookies on Sundays.

Tienes que hornear el pastel por cuarenta minutos.

You have to bake the cake for forty minutes.

Mientras ella preparaba la masa, él horneaba el pan.

While she was preparing the dough, he was baking the bread.

It's a Regular Joe

Good news! This verb follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar. No hidden spelling surprises here.

Action vs. Result

Use 'hornear' for the action of putting something in the oven. If you want to describe the food as 'baked,' use the adjective form 'horneado' (e.g., 'papa horneada' for 'baked potato').

Don't use 'cocinar' for everything

Mistake: “Voy a cocinar pan.”

Correction: Voy a hornear pan. While 'cocinar' (to cook) isn't strictly wrong, 'hornear' is much more natural and specific for things made in an oven.

Confusing Job Dismissal vs. Shooting

The most common mistake is using verbs like 'disparar' or 'tirar' when you mean to fire someone from their job. Remember that 'despedir', 'echar', 'botar', and 'largar' are for employment contexts, while 'disparar' and 'tirar' are for shooting weapons.

Related Translations

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