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"Arrojar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to throw", and "lanzar" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to throw". Learn more about the difference between "arrojar" and "lanzar" below.
arrojar(
ah
-
rroh
-
hahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to fling)
a. to throw
Por favor, no arroje nada por la ventana del tren.Please do not throw anything out of the train window.
b. to hurl (with force)
Arrojó el anillo al mar; ya no quería saber más de su exesposo.She hurled her ring into the sea. She didn't want anything more to do with her ex-husband.
a. to produce
La prueba de embarazo arrojó un resultado negativo.The pregnancy test produced a negative result.
3. (to emit)
a. to spew out (lava, ash)
El volcán arrojó tantas cenizas sobre la ciudad que tuvieron que cerrar todas las escuelas.The volcano spewed out so much ash over the city that all of the schools closed.
b. to belch out (smoke)
La fábrica arroja demasiado humo al ambiente.The factory belches out too much smoke into the atmosphere.
a. to throw out
El gorila arrojó a mi amigo después de que empezara una pelea en el bar.The bouncer threw my friend out after she started a fight in the bar.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
5. (to puke)
a. to vomit
La cena me cayó mal y arrojé sobre la alfombra nueva de mi suegra.The dinner didn't sit right with me and I vomited all over my mother-in-law's new rug.
b. to throw up
Bebió demasiado y estuvo arrojando toda la noche.She drank too much and was throwing up all night long.
arrojarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to throw oneself
En el cuento de Andersen, la sirenita se arroja al mar y se convierte en espuma.In Andersen's story, the little mermaid throws herself into the sea and becomes sea foam.
b. to hurl oneself (violently)
El ladrón se arrojó contra el policía, tratando de escapar.The thief hurled himself against the cop, trying to escape.
c. to jump
El paracaidista se arrojó del avión pero no llevaba paracaídas.The skydiver jumped out of the plane, but he forgot his parachute.
lanzar(
lahn
-
sahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to propel)
c. to fling
Solíamos lanzar globos de agua a los carros cuando éramos niños.We used to fling water balloons at cars when we were kids.
d. to pitch (baseball)
Nolan Ryan lanzaba con una velocidad tremenda.Nolan Ryan pitched amazingly fast.
b. to release
Thalía lanzó su última canción en el otoño.Thalia released her latest song in the fall.
4. (to express)
a. to hurl
Carlota lanzó unas acusaciones a su tía por no haberle dado lo que pidió.Carlota hurled accusations at her aunt for not getting her what she asked for.
b. to let out
El estudiante lanzó un suspiro al terminar el examen.The student let out a sigh when he finished the exam.
c. to launch
El viejito me lanzó una letanía de insultos cuando pisé el césped de su casa.The old man launched a litany of insults at me when I stepped on his lawn.
a. to shoot
Juan le lanzó una mirada feroz a su amiga porque lo delató con la maestra.Juan shot his friend an angry look because she told on him to the teacher.
b. to give
El barman me lanzó una mirada atrevida cuando le pedí un "sexo en la playa".The bartender gave me a saucy look when I asked for a "sex on the beach."
6. (to begin)
a. to launch
La invasión de Normandía se lanzó el 6 de junio de 1944.The invasion of Normandy was launched on June 6th, 1944.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
7. (to vomit)
a. to throw up
El jamón me cayó mal; creo que voy a lanzar.The ham didn't agree with me; I think I'm going to throw up.
lanzarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to fall upon
Los fanáticos se lanzaron sobre Messi cuando salió del estadio.The fans fell upon Messi when he exited the stadium.
b. to leap on
Los niños se lanzaron sobre el castillo inflable en la feria.The kids leapt on the moon bounce at the fair.
a. to undertake
La empresa se va a lanzar a un nuevo reto este año.The company is going to undertake a new challenge this year.
b. to embark upon
La exploradora se lanzó a una nueva aventura.The explorer embarked upon a new adventure.
