The Verb Echar

Question

Pienso que este verbo es uno de más usado en español en todas las formas. Tiene muchos significados y también es usado en muchos dichos. Vamos a explorar este verbo.

I think this verb is one of the most used in spanish in every way. It has many meanings and also is used in many sayings. Let's explore this verb

Elige una definición o expresión y dénos una oración en inglés y español. Choose a definition or expression and give us a sentence in both english and spanish.

Echar a perder = to spoil or go bad.

• Echas la leche en el refrigerador o se va a echar a perder.
  • Put the milk in the refrigerator or it's going to spoil.

This will keep us going quite a while, good idea! And very useful too. - annierats, Jan 16, 2012

"uno de los más usados" "en todas las formas" "Muchos significados" - Gekkosan, Jan 16, 2012

Gekkosan, we may need lots of assistance, pay attention to our commas, in particular. - annierats, Jan 16, 2012

Pon la leche en el refrigerador o se va a echar a perder - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

it's going to spoil - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

I believe you will need a corrector for this thread, gringo. - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

"uno de los más usados y en muchas formas", creo que así queda mejor. - chileno, Jan 17, 2012

Thanks Gekkosan and comgumela for the edits. I write terribly. - gringojrf, Jan 17, 2012

Thanks for this thread. Echar is one of those verbs that's hard to get a handle on, at least for me. - Echoline, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 1

bueno, efectivamente el verbo "hechar" tiene muchos usos en el idioma español, por ejemplo:

"me vas a hechar de menos" significa que me vas a extrañar,

"hecha al perro de la cocina" significa que saques al perro de la cocina.

"héchame una mano" significa que me ayudes.

"¡¡hechale ganas!!" significa que te apures a hacer algo.

también hay modismos como: "no le heches más leña al fuego" que significa que no empeores las cosas (es decir, si hay un problema no lo compliques más)

¿cómo se conjuga? (sólo presente para que no se "hagan bolas" (no se confundan)

Yo hecho Tú hechas Él hecha Nosotros hechamos Ustedes hechan Ellos hechan

y hay más que en este momento no recuerdo, cualquier duda yo "les hecho la mano" jaja!!

Soy un poco torpe y tengo que aprenderlos paso a paso... - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

Ufff, remove all the (h) in the beginning of the words, hombreman. - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

echar, sin H - chileno, Jan 17, 2012

I agree with chileno - no H. Otherwise good job. - gringojrf, Jan 17, 2012

Hmmm.. traditionally, isn't the H the correct way? (even if not current or popular) Also, I always thought "hechale ganas" to be kind of like a synonym of "give it all you got". - DJ_Huero, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 2

Echarse un novio. To get a boyfriend/ girlfriend, friend...

Ojalá, que mi hijo se eche una novia.

Oh, if only my son would get himself a girlfriend.

Risky, here, subjunctive... - annierats, Jan 16, 2012

I am not sure about using que for "if only". But if I pu t 'that' in its place I guess it works. Its a lament. So I agree subjunctive is correct. - gringojrf, Jan 16, 2012

Gring, ojalá is followed by the subjunctive. Normally it's best, therefore to say, Ojalá, punto, end conversation. That's my normal option. - annierats, Jan 16, 2012

And ojalá carries the íf only'. Ojalá que sea. If only it were so. If necessary, ask Paralee. I hardly ever venture into the grammatical arena. - annierats, Jan 16, 2012

Okay. I think of Ojala as I hope or God willing. So I agree your sentence works. It was the english translation that gave me pause. My grammar is far from perfect. - gringojrf, Jan 16, 2012

It's a mystery to me that I learn anything at all, I hardky ever know what it is all about. - annierats, Jan 16, 2012

Annie, "echarse un novio/novia" para mí suena a sexo... :) cuidado donde lo digas. - chileno, Jan 17, 2012

Chileno, the boy is getting on, I would be happy with any development at all for him.. - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

Thank you for telling me, chileno, I shall bear it in mind. I'm still hoping to be called a chica caliente, but no luck yet.. - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 3

Echarse la charla - to have a chat

Voy a echarla echarme una buena charla y risas tomando un café.

I'm going to have a good chat with her and laugh having coffee.

... I'm not too sure about my grammar here. :( - pesta, Jan 17, 2012

Hmm... - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

Voy a echarme una buena y risas tomando un café ( Echarse una charla, unas risas...) - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

Not pronominal example: Le voy a echar una charlita y decirle lo que pienso de él. Así aprenderá (completelly different meaning: to chew him out) - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

Oh, I missed the word *charla before! Sorry about that! - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

Echarse una charla = to have a chat ( normally a great while) Echar una charla ( To chew sb out, to make a loooong speech, a real lecture... negative meaning) - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

I like the idea, but for me (and I am probably wrong) the last past (risas tomando un café) doesn't sound correct.Voy a echarme una buena charla con muchas risas y tomar un café. - gringojrf, Jan 17, 2012

¡Gracias, cogu! - pesta, Jan 17, 2012

Very interesting. - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

Thanks Cogu, for showing us the difference between echarse una charla and echar una charla! - MLucie, Jan 17, 2012

Yes, that's great. I never saw that before, and I could offend somebody if I used the wrong one. :) - pesta, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 4

Echar en cara: to blame, to remind someone of their faults

Yo sé que cometo muchos errores pero no tienes que echármelo en cara.

I know I make a lot of mistakes but you don't have to throw it in my face.

I just learned this...it may not be quite right.

Muy bien, Mlucie - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

A sort of 'don't rub it in..' Most useful. - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

Very good. - gringojrf, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 5

echarse - to throw oneself. Nos echamos al suelo cuando oímos la explosión. We threw ourselves to the ground when we heard the explosion.

Fortunately, I've never had that experience! ¡Gracias a Dios nunca me pasó! - Jubilado, Jan 16, 2012

Good one. - annierats, Jan 16, 2012

Answer 6

This one is an idiom: Echar a patadas a alguien, to kick someone out.

El inquilino no pudo pagar la renta, para que su casero le (lo) echó a patados del departamento.

The tenant couldn't pay the rent, so his landlord kicked him out of the apartment.

Echar takes the direct object here but I used le, which I believe is the common use of leismo in this case.

Excellent. I have heard this used in Mexico. - gringojrf, Jan 17, 2012

It was to be my next one, but you've made abetter sentence, I was just going to kick somebody out of a job.. - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 7

Echar raíces = to plant roots

Me gusta tanto vivir en Mexico que pienso que voy a echar raíces in este país.

I like living in Mexico so much that I think I am going to plant roots in that country.

In English: Put down roots. Brilliant use of the word. You've done well to make us look up all these uses, I'm amazed. - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 8

¿Cuántos años me echas?

---

How old do you think I am?

I never heard that! Brilliant, if we learn this word, we hardly need any others. - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

I love echar. I can't think of another word that's used in so many ways. - pesta, Jan 17, 2012

I also had never heard this one. Thanks. - gringojrf, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 9

Echar de menos - to miss something, feel the lack of something.

¿Cómo puedo echarte de menos cuando siempre estás aquí?

How can I miss you when you're always here?

es, good one, pesta, we forgot it because it was up in some recent questions.. - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

I'm glad you've joined us , pesta, please help us correct each other. Gringo and I need supervision. - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

Probably should generally include the te in there somewhere: "Cómo te puedo echar..." or "Cómo puedo echarte..." - webdunce, Jan 17, 2012

:) - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

I forget the "te" for the first few minutes. It makes a big difference. - pesta, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 10

Echar: to add an ingredient in cooking.

Echar sal y pimienta al gusto. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Oh dear, prizewinning typo: Add peeper.... - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

pimientA - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

Gracias, gracias, estoy tan feliz que tenemos ayudad. - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

Gotta love those typos. lol. I make a lot of them too. - gringojrf, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 11

Echar dientes: To cut ones teeth.

El bebé llora todo el tiempo porque está echando los primeros dientes.

The baby is crying all the time because he is cutting his first teeth.

Great question gringo. I'm getting too tired now, I'm sure there are lots more, mañana será otro día. - annierats, Jan 16, 2012

Fantastic! Thanks. - gringojrf, Jan 16, 2012

Maybe it can also be used, as in Englsih, for getting experience? I cut my teeth under Mr. Brown, a perfectionist... - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

...está echando los primeros dientes - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

Gracias , cogumela. - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 12

Echar meaning to mail (or to post): Poner algo al correo

People don't mail personal letters as much today, because we have email.

La gente no echa al correo con frecuencia las cartas personales en estos días, porque tenemos correo electrónico.

Good. - gringojrf, Jan 16, 2012

remove the articles (las), and the prep (en). La gente no echa al correo cartas personales estos días... Good, jubilado! - cogumela, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 13

Echar a llorar; To break into tears.

Echar la culpa : To blame someone

La chica echó a llorar porque su máma la echó la culpa del accidente.

The little girl started to cry because her mother blamed her for the accident.

I'm not very sure of the grammar but I'm sure of the use. - annierats, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 14

echarse a reír = to burst out laughing

Me eché a reír.

I burst out laughing.

Answer 15

Echar = to sprout.

En primavera las flores echan al suelo y alcanzan por el cielo.

In spring the flowers sprout from the ground and reach for the sky.

I did echar = to sprout and echar raíces = to plant roots. Because I like that it is used to grow from the ground and to grow into the ground. Cool.

I like it! - annierats, Jan 17, 2012