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"Meter" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to put", and "poner" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to put". Learn more about the difference between "meter" and "poner" below.
meter(
meh
-
tehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to place)
a. to put
Jorge metió el brazo por la verja para alcanzar la fruta.Jorge put his arm through the railings to reach the fruit.
b. to stick
El niñito metió un cuchillo en la tostadora y se sorprendió con lo que pasó.The little boy stuck a knife in the toaster and was shocked by what happened.
c. to fit
¿Crees que se puede meter tantas personas en el coche?Do you think you can fit that many people in the car?
2. (sports)
a. to score
Nuestro equipo metió el único gol faltando tres segundos en el partido.Our team scored the only goal of the match with three seconds to go.
a. to bring into
No quiero que me metas en las broncas del comité.I don't want you to bring me into the committee's problems.
b. to involve
No hubieras metido a tu hijo en este negocio.You shouldn't have involved your son in this business.
4. (sewing)
a. to take in
Como perdí peso, tengo que meter la cintura de los pantalones.Since I've lost weight, I need to take in the waist of my pants.
b. to take up
Como la falda te queda un poco larga, vamos a meter la bastilla.Since your skirt is a little long, we're going to take up the hem.
b. to put
Mete reversa y lentamente quita el pie del freno.Put it in reverse and slowly take your foot off the brake.
6. (to employ)
7. (to use on)
a. to take to
No me gustó como me quedó el dibujo, así que le metí las tijeras.I didn't like how my drawing turned out, so I took the scissors to it.
8. (colloquial) (to make understand)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get into
No sé como meterle a mi hijo que tiene que estudiar.I don't know how to get it into my son's head that he has to study.
9. (to apply)
a. to give
El boxeador le metió un golpe tan duro a su contrincante que se cayó.The boxer gave his opponent such a hard punch that he fell over.
10. (to cause)
meterse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
c. to get into
Estoy tan cansada que tengo ganas de meterme en la cama.I'm so tired I just want to get into bed.
12. (to be placed)
a. to get involved
Imelda se metió a la política cuando su familia perdió todo por un político corrupto.Imelda got involved in politics when her family lost everything because of a corrupt politician.
b. to get into
Después de su primer viaje al mar a los 12 años, Rose se metió al buceo.After her first trip to the coast at age 12, Rose got into diving.
a. to interfere
Rafa siempre se mete en donde no debe.Rafa's always interfering where he’s not wanted.
b. to meddle
¿No tienes nada mejor que hacer que meterte en nuestro proyecto?Don’t you have anything better to do than meddle in our project?
c. to stick one's nose in
No te metas donde no debes.Don't stick your nose in where it's not wanted.
poner(
poh
-
nehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to place)
2. (figurative) (to cause to be)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. to put
Su renuncia me pone en una situación difícil.His resignation puts me in a difficult position.
3. (clothing)
a. to put on
Después de bañar a la bebé, hay que ponerle ropa limpia.After giving the baby a bath, you have to put some clean clothes on her.
4. (to install)
6. (to grade)
7. (to produce)
a. to put in
Podemos alquilar ese sitio si todos ponemos algo de dinero.We can rent the place if everybody puts in some cash.
9. (to connect)
10. (to name)
11. (to establish)
a. to open
Sandy y su esposo van a poner una panadería en la calle principal.Sandy and her husband are going to open a bakery on main street.
ponerse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
12. (to become)
a. to get
No te pongas impaciente conmigo cuando no has hecho nada para ayudar.Don't get impatient with me when you haven't done anything to help.
b. to be
No te pongas triste, cariño. Todo se arreglará.Don't be sad, sweetie. Everything will work out.
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me pongo furiosa con pensarlo.It makes me mad to think about it.
El perro siempre se pone feliz al verte.The dog's always happy to see you.
a. to wear
Ya nunca me pongo ese vestido porque se ha quedado muy anticuado.I don't wear that dress anymore because it's very old-fashioned.
17. (to go down)
