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How to Say "to leak" in Spanish

English → Spanish

irse

/EER-seh//ˈiɾse/

Pronominal VerbB1general
Use 'irse' when referring to liquids, gases, or even people 'leaving' or escaping from a confined space like a pipe, balloon, or container.
A blue metal water pipe with a single drop of water slowly falling from a visible crack, illustrating a leak.

Examples

Se está yendo el gas del globo.

The gas is leaking from the balloon.

Cuidado, la sopa se va por el borde de la olla.

Careful, the soup is spilling over the edge of the pot.

Talking About Accidents

This use of 'irse' is often part of a structure that describes an accident without placing blame. For example, 'Se me fue la leche' is like saying 'The milk got away from me' instead of 'I spilled the milk'.

correr

koh-REHR/koˈrer/

verbA2general
Use 'correr' to describe the general flow or running of a liquid, especially when it's moving from a higher point to a lower point, or simply moving along a path, rather than specifically escaping from a container.
Clear blue water flowing rapidly over smooth river stones in a natural setting.

Examples

El agua corre desde la montaña hasta el río.

The water flows from the mountain to the river.

El rumor corrió por toda la oficina en minutos.

The rumor circulated (ran) through the entire office in minutes.

Necesitamos arreglar la tubería porque está corriendo agua.

We need to fix the pipe because water is leaking/running out.

Irse vs. Correr for 'to leak'

Learners often confuse 'irse' and 'correr' because both can describe liquid movement. Remember that 'irse' specifically implies escaping from a contained space (like a leak), while 'correr' is more about general flowing or running, often downhill.

Related Translations

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