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How to Say "to wrap" in Spanish

English → Spanish

envolver

en-bohl-BEHRemboˈlβeɾ

verbA2general
Use 'envolver' when you are covering an object, such as a gift, with paper, cloth, or plastic.
A colorful gift box being covered with bright blue wrapping paper and a red ribbon.

Examples

¿Podría envolver este libro para regalo, por favor?

Could you wrap this book as a gift, please?

Tienes que envolver el bocadillo en papel de aluminio.

You have to wrap the sandwich in aluminum foil.

Ella envuelve las flores con mucho cuidado.

She wraps the flowers very carefully.

The 'O to UE' Change

This is a 'boot verb.' When you stress the 'o' in the middle (in the present tense), it changes to 'ue'. This happens for everyone except 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'.

The Irregular Past Participle

When talking about something that is 'wrapped' (the past participle), we don't say 'envolvido'. Instead, we use the special word 'envuelto'.

Saying 'envolvido'

Mistake: “El regalo está envolvido.”

Correction: El regalo está envuelto. Use 'envuelto' because it is an irregular past-action word.

empacar

em-pah-KAHRem.paˈkaɾ

verbB1commercial
Use 'empacar' when referring to packing items into containers, especially for commercial purposes like shipping or storage, often implying sealing or boxing.
A worker placing a toy car into a cardboard box and sealing it with tape.

Examples

La fábrica empaca al vacío para mantener la frescura.

The factory vacuum-packages to maintain freshness.

Industrial Use

In a commercial setting, this word describes the final stage of production before shipping.

liar

lee-ahrliˈar

verbB1general
Use 'liar' when you need to wrap something, typically a package, in paper or similar material before sending it, similar to 'envolver' but often with a focus on mailing.
A small gift box being carefully wrapped in blue paper with a red ribbon.

Examples

Tengo que liar este paquete para enviarlo por correo.

I have to wrap this package to send it by mail.

Él sabe liar sus propios cigarrillos.

He knows how to roll his own cigarettes.

Lió los libros con una cuerda vieja.

He tied the books together with an old rope.

The Accent Shift

Even though 'liar' looks simple, when you say 'I wrap' (lío), you must put an accent on the 'i' to keep it from blending with the 'o'.

Missing Accents

Mistake: “yo lio”

Correction: yo lío. Without the accent, it wouldn't sound like two distinct beats (lee-oh).

Gift Wrapping vs. Packaging

Learners often confuse 'envolver' and 'liar' for gift wrapping. While both can work, 'envolver' is more general for covering an item nicely. 'Liar' is often used when the wrapping is specifically for sending something through the mail. 'Empacar' is typically for commercial packing, not gifts.

Related Translations

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