colgar
/kolˈɡaɾ/
To hang up in Spanish is to say colgar. Wiktionary also lists cortar.
Meaning: terminate a phone call (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| colgar | /kolˈɡaɾ/ |
| cortar | /koɾˈtaɾ/ |
While colgar literally means 'to hang,' it is the standard verb used for terminating a phone call.
Which one should you use?
colgar is the standard verb for hanging up the phone. In contrast, cortar is often used when a call is disconnected or cut off, either intentionally or due to a bad connection.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, people frequently use the term cortar to indicate hanging up.
How do you pronounce it?
/kolˈɡaɾ/
Did you know?
- While colgar is used for ending a call, colgarse as a reflexive verb can colloquially mean to zone out or lose one's train of thought during a conversation.
- The word colgar is a distant relative of the English word 'couch'. Both descend from the Latin word collocāre, which meant 'to set in place'.
- In many Spanish speaking countries, the phrase colgar el teléfono is used even when using a smartphone with no physical receiver to hang up.
Examples in context
- ¿Puedo colgar tu abrigo?May I hang up your coat?This sentence shows how to use colgar for hanging up a physical object like a coat.Tatoeba #6630152 by Schuager, translation #62298 by CK
- ¿Podrías colgar la ropa?Could you hang up the laundry?This sentence demonstrates using colgar to hang up laundry.Tatoeba #7316641 by UsuarioX, translation #3459863 by AlanF_US
- Tom estaba a punto de colgar cuando oyó gritar a Mary.Tom was just about to hang up when he heard Mary scream.This sentence shows the use of colgar in the context of ending a phone call.Tatoeba #1171964 by Shishir, translation #1092400 by CK
- Por favor, cuelgue el teléfonoPlease hang up the phone.
- Cortaron la llamadaThey hung up the call.
- Voy a cortarI'm going to hang up
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are finishing a phone call.
- MateoBueno, voy a colgar ahora.Well, I'm going to hang up now.
- ElenaEspera, no cuelgues todavía.Wait, don't hang up yet.
- MateoTengo que irme, Elena.I have to go, Elena.
- ElenaEstá bien, puedes colgar.That's fine, you can hang up.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hang up” translations and entries colgar, cortar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries colgar, cortar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
