How to Say "to throw" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to throw” is “tirar” — use 'tirar' when you are projecting an object through the air, such as in a game or sport, or when throwing something away..
tirar
/tee-RAHR//tiˈɾaɾ/
Examples
El niño no paraba de tirar la pelota.
The boy wouldn't stop throwing the ball.
Necesitas tirar esta caja vieja a la basura.
You need to throw this old box in the trash.
El viento tiró el árbol durante la tormenta.
The wind knocked down the tree during the storm.
Using 'Tirar' for Trash
When talking about throwing something away, you often use the construction 'tirar a la basura' (throw to the trash).
Throwing vs. Dropping
Mistake: “Using 'tirar' when you mean 'to drop' something accidentally.”
Correction: Use 'dejar caer' or 'se me cayó'. 'Tirar' implies intention.
echar
/eh-CHAR//eˈt͡ʃaɾ/
Examples
Ella echó la basura al contenedor.
She threw the trash into the bin.
Ella echó la pelota al perro en el parque.
She threw the ball to the dog in the park.
Por favor, echa la basura en el contenedor azul.
Please, throw the trash in the blue container.
Literal Action
In its most basic use, 'echar' simply means moving an object through the air, similar to 'tirar' but often implying a less forceful or less destructive action.
Confusing 'tirar' and 'echar' for 'to throw'
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.