How do you say: I washed in Spanish

Question

How do you say: I washed in spanish

I know this sentence I washed can mean/refer to people or things in English but a proper context is needed in Spanish because two different verbs are used for washing yourself or other things/people/animals - FELIZ77, Feb 21, 2012

Good question:) - FELIZ77, Feb 21, 2012

Answer 1

If you just want to say. I washed, then it should be "lavé"

• I washed the dishes = Lavé los platos
• I washed my car = Lavé el carro
• I washed clothes = Lavé la ropa
• You do not have to write or say "yo" The conjugation already tells you that "Yo" is doing the action. Here are a few differences
• I washed my hair = Me lavé el cabello/pelo
• I washed my face = Me lavé la cara

Answer 2

The verb lavarse is used to mean to wash yourself/oneself.

This verb, like so many others is known as/termed a pronominal verb with reflexive endings. You can recognise them by the addition of se at the end of the infinitive form.. eg; bañarse= to bathe/bathonself; despertarse = to wake up; levantarse = to get up etc....It is the endings which are reflexive and not the vern. I have learnt this from our learned friend and excellent native teacher: Lazarus, whose posts you can still find here

Me lavé = I washed (myself)

You would only use reflexive endings to indicate that you are doing the action to yourself

eg I wash my hair = Me lavo el pelo

If you are performing the action on someone/something else then you would just use the verb lavar

Están lavando el perro = They are washing the dog

I hope this helps

and reflexive for someone else performing action on themselves - warrenmarshall, Feb 21, 2012

Yes of course but only on themselves :) - FELIZ77, Feb 21, 2012

Answer 3

I washed -me lavé

type in lavarse in conjugator as its a reflexive verb i.e. things you do to yourself

Present me lavo te lavas se lava nos lavamos os laváis se lavan

Preterit me lavé te lavaste se lavó nos lavamos os lavasteis se lavaron

hope this helps

Answer 4

If you want to say "I washed myself (face, arms, or any other body part..) you would say "Me lavé...."

I you wanted to say you washed something else besides yourself, you would just say "Lavé..." or "Yo lavé...."

Answer 5

He lavado el coche. I washed the car. me he lavado las manos. I washed my hands. He lavado el niño. I washed the child.

Ken he lavado = I have washed (perfect indicative0) If you want to simply say: I'' washed my hands''using the preterite/simple past you would say: Me lavé las manos - FELIZ77, Feb 21, 2012

Ken your sentences are not correct You are saying I HAVE washed in Spanish and translating it into the preterite: I washed in English The tenses MUST match ! - FELIZ77, Feb 21, 2012

Yes I should have said I have washed in the English translation rather than I washed otherwise there is nothing wrong with using perfect indicative but if I was using a definate time scale I would use preterite i.e. Ayer lavé el coche to say I washed the - kenwilliams, Feb 22, 2012

car yesterday, I could also say He navegado a las Islas Baleares cuatro veces. and although it was several years ago I don¡t have to use the preterite "navegué" unless I refer to a specific time in the past. - kenwilliams, Feb 22, 2012

Answer 6

warrenmarshall's is the correct answer, and remember you can also wash the dishes or your pants: presente: yo lavo/ tú lavas / ella lava /nosotros lavamos etc ... la ropa (o los trastes etc.) pretérito: yo lavé/ tú lavaste /ella lavó/ nosotros lavamos etc... la ropa, los trastes, etc...

to check the conjugation of any spanish verb, search it in it's infinitive form in this page:

http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/

and then click the button "conjugar"