Inklingo

How to Say "to pour" in Spanish

English → Spanish

echar

/eh-CHAR//eˈt͡ʃaɾ/

verbA2general
Use 'echar' when referring to the general act of adding or putting in a liquid, especially when it's a small amount or part of a recipe.
A hand pours bright blue liquid from a clear glass pitcher into a ceramic mug.

Examples

Voy a echarle un poco de sal a la sopa.

I'm going to add a little salt to the soup.

¿Puedes echar más gasolina al coche, por favor?

Can you put more gas in the car, please?

Echa el agua caliente en la tetera.

Pour the hot water into the kettle.

Use with Indirect Objects (Le/Les)

When you add something to something else (like salt to soup), you often use the indirect object pronoun 'le' or 'les': 'Le echo sal' (I add salt to it).

echarle

eh-CHAR-leh/eˈtʃaɾle/

verbA2general
Use 'echarle' when you are pouring a liquid *into* something specific, emphasizing the destination of the pour.
A close-up view of a cartoon hand sprinkling a pinch of bright red spice from its fingertips into a large blue mixing bowl.

Examples

¿Puedes echarle más azúcar al café, por favor?

Can you add more sugar to the coffee, please?

No le eches tanta sal a la sopa, ya tiene suficiente.

Don't put so much salt in the soup; it already has enough.

Hay que echarle gasolina al coche antes de salir.

We have to put gas in the car before leaving.

The attached 'le'

When you see 'echarle', the 'le' means 'to it' or 'to him/her'. It's an indirect object pronoun showing what receives the addition (e.g., the coffee, the soup).

llenar

/yeh-NAHR//ʎeˈnaɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'llenar' specifically when the action is about filling something up completely or to a certain level with a liquid.
A hand pouring water from a pitcher into a clear glass jar until the jar is completely full, with the water reaching the brim.

Examples

Necesitas llenar el tanque de gasolina antes de viajar.

You need to fill the gas tank before traveling.

La camarera llenó mi taza de café otra vez.

The waitress filled my coffee cup again.

Vamos a llenar la piscina con agua de la manguera.

We are going to fill the pool with water from the hose.

Simple Regular Verb

This is a regular -AR verb, making its conjugation very predictable. Just follow the standard pattern for all tenses!

Confusing 'Llenar' and 'Llevar'

Mistake: “Using 'llevar' (to take/carry) when you mean 'llenar' (to fill).”

Correction: Remember the 'n' in 'llenar' sounds like 'in' in 'inundate' (to flood/fill up). Use 'Llené el cubo' (I filled the bucket).

Confusing 'echar'/'echarle' with 'llenar'

Learners often confuse 'echar' or 'echarle' with 'llenar'. Remember that 'llenar' means to fill something up, while 'echar'/'echarle' refers more to the act of adding or pouring in, often in smaller quantities or as part of a process.

Related Translations

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