How to Say "to shed" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to shed” is “derramar” — use 'derramar' when referring to liquids like tears, blood, or spilled substances, or metaphorically for light.
Use 'derramar' when referring to liquids like tears, blood, or spilled substances, or metaphorically for light.
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Similar to 'derramar', 'verter' is used for liquids like tears or blood, often implying a deliberate pouring action.
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Use 'despojar' when you mean to get rid of something, like clothes, possessions, feelings, or bad habits.
Learn more →deh-rrah-MAHRderaˈmaɾ
Examples
Ella derramó lágrimas de alegría al verlo.
She shed tears of joy upon seeing him.
Muchos soldados derramaron su sangre en esta batalla.
Many soldiers shed their blood in this battle.
El sol derramaba su luz sobre el valle.
The sun shed its light over the valley.
Emotional Contexts
When used with 'lágrimas' (tears), it emphasizes the volume or intensity of the emotion more than the simpler verb 'llorar' (to cry).
behr-TEHRbeɾˈteɾ
Examples
Ten cuidado de no verter el agua sobre los documentos.
Be careful not to shed/pour the water on the documents.
Tienes que verter la leche en el tazón con cuidado.
You have to pour the milk into the bowl carefully.
Ella vertió un poco de vino en mi copa.
She poured a bit of wine into my glass.
Al escuchar la noticia, vertió lágrimas de emoción.
Upon hearing the news, she shed tears of emotion.
The 'E' to 'IE' Change
In the present tense, the 'e' in the middle of 'verter' changes to 'ie' whenever that part of the word is stressed. This happens for everyone except 'we' (nosotros) and 'you all' (vosotros).
Verter vs. Echar
While both mean to pour, 'verter' is often used for a controlled movement of liquid or in more formal contexts, whereas 'echar' is used for almost anything from pouring salt to throwing out trash.
Don't forget the stem change
Mistake: “Yo verto el agua.”
Correction: Yo vierto el agua. (The 'e' must change to 'ie' in the present tense).
des-po-HARdespoˈxaɾ
Examples
Al llegar a casa, se despojó de su pesado abrigo.
Upon arriving home, he shed his heavy coat.
Debes despojarte de tus miedos si quieres tener éxito.
You must rid yourself of your fears if you want to succeed.
El árbol se despoja de sus hojas en otoño.
The tree sheds its leaves in autumn.
The Reflexive 'se'
When you are shedding something of your own (like your clothes or your own fear), you add 'se' to the end of the verb (despojarse) to show the action is being done to yourself.
Using it for everyday undressing
Mistake: “Me despojo los zapatos.”
Correction: Me quito los zapatos. 'Despojarse' is very dramatic; for daily tasks, use 'quitarse'.
Liquids vs. Getting Rid Of
The most common mistake is confusing 'derramar'/'verter' (for liquids like tears or blood) with 'despojar' (for removing clothing, habits, or burdens). Remember, 'derramar' and 'verter' are about spilling or pouring, while 'despojar' is about discarding or removing.
Related Translations
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