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How to Say "to fit" in Spanish

English → Spanish

entrar

/en-TRAR//enˈtɾaɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'entrar' when an object is too large or too small to go through an opening or into a space.
Two people struggling to push a large, wide sofa that is stuck in a narrow doorway.

Examples

Este mueble no entra por la puerta.

This furniture doesn't fit through the door.

El sofá no entra por la puerta.

The sofa doesn't fit through the door.

Esta llave no entra en la cerradura.

This key doesn't go in the lock.

¿Crees que toda la ropa entrará en una sola maleta?

Do you think all the clothes will fit in just one suitcase?

quedar

keh-DAHR/keˈðaɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'quedar' when referring to how clothing fits your body in terms of size or appearance.
A cheerful person wearing a perfectly sized red T-shirt and blue jeans, giving a thumbs-up to indicate the clothes fit well.

Examples

La talla M me queda perfecta.

Size M fits me perfectly.

Esta camisa me queda muy pequeña.

This shirt fits me too small.

El vestido rojo te queda genial.

The red dress looks great on you.

Después de tanto trabajo, la casa quedó limpia.

After so much work, the house ended up clean.

Expressing how clothes fit

When talking about clothes, 'quedar' behaves like 'gustar' again. Use indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les) to show who the clothes fit: 'El pantalón me queda grande' (The pants fit me big).

Using 'ser' or 'estar' for results

Mistake: “La comida está buena. (The food is good.) when describing the final result.”

Correction: La comida quedó buena. (The food turned out good.) – Use 'quedar' to describe the outcome of a process.

venir

/beh-NEER//beˈniɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'venir' to describe how clothing fits, often implying it's a bit too large or too small for you.
A person wearing a shirt that is visibly too big, with oversized sleeves.

Examples

Este abrigo me viene demasiado holgado.

This coat fits me too loosely.

Esta falda me viene un poco grande.

This skirt fits me a little big.

Ahora no me viene bien hablar, ¿te llamo luego?

It doesn't suit me to talk right now, can I call you later?

Tu ayuda me vendría de maravilla.

Your help would be wonderful for me.

Works Like 'Gustar'

When 'venir' means 'to fit' or 'to suit', it often works like 'gustar'. The thing that fits is in charge of the verb. So you say 'La camisa me viene bien' (The shirt fits me well), not 'Yo vengo bien la camisa'.

casar

cah-SAHR/kaˈsaɾ/

verbB2general
Use 'casar' when talking about things harmonizing or matching well together, like flavors or colors.
A stylized image showing a slice of bright red apple and a piece of yellow cheddar cheese placed side by side on a wooden board, symbolizing a perfect match of flavors.

Examples

El azul de la corbata casa con la camisa.

The blue of the tie fits/matches the shirt.

El vino tinto no casa bien con el pescado.

Red wine doesn't pair well with fish.

Estos colores no casan; son demasiado diferentes.

These colors don't match; they are too different.

Figurative Use

In this sense, 'casar' is used just like 'to match' in English, showing that two things go together or complement each other.

Clothes vs. Physical Space

Learners often confuse 'entrar' with verbs like 'quedar' or 'venir' when talking about clothing. Remember, 'entrar' is for objects fitting into spaces, while 'quedar' and 'venir' are specifically for how clothes fit your body.

Related Translations

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