How to Say “Drop” in Spanish

Ways to say it

In Spanish, the translation you choose depends on whether you are describing the act of releasing an object, the object's own movement or using modern slang. You can use dejar caer to mean letting something fall, tirar to describe a more forceful drop or throw and caer to describe the act of falling itself. In specific modern contexts like gaming or the music industry, the anglicism dropear is used.

Which one should you use?

Use dejar caer when the emphasis is on the act of releasing or allowing an object to fall. In contrast, use tirar when the drop involves a more forceful movement, such as throwing something or letting it go roughly. While dejar caer means to let something fall, caer describes the object's own action of falling.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

The term dropear is considered slang and is primarily used in gaming or music contexts.

Is it said differently in some regions?

Across Latin America, dejar caer is commonly understood and used. The verb tirar is also very prevalent and widely understood throughout Latin America. Additionally, in some Latin American countries, the phrase dejar tirado is used to express 'to drop' or 'to leave behind'.

Related words

Act of moving downwards under the force of gravity (noun): caída.

Confection (noun): arrezuz, regaliz, regalicia.

How does it change in a sentence?

The verb caer is irregular in many common tenses, such as the preterite form cayó (he/she fell).

How do you pronounce it?

/dexaɾ kaeɾ/