Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| echar | /eˈt͡ʃaɾ/ | |
| poner de patitas en la calle | /poneɾ de patitas en la kaʝe/ (from spelling rules) | colloquial |
| botar | /boˈtaɾ/ |
The primary way to express the idea of kicking someone out or throwing something away is to use echar. It is a versatile and common verb used across most Spanish-speaking regions.
What does it mean word for word?
The colloquial phrase poner de patitas en la calle literally means 'to put (someone) on their little feet in the street'.
Which one should you use?
While echar is the standard term, botar is often used as a common synonym in many Latin American countries when the meaning is to throw something or someone out.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal contexts, such as official actions within schools or organizations, use expulsar. If you need to convey the meaning of evicting or removing someone from a property, use the formal term desalojar. In informal settings, you can use the colloquial expression poner de patitas en la calle or the informal verb botar.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The verb botar is used primarily in Latin America.
How do you pronounce it?
/eˈtʃaɾ/
Did you know?
- The English word 'jet' shares a distant ancestor with the Spanish verb echar through the Latin root for throwing or casting.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying someone was put 'on their little feet' implies they were removed instantly and without any belongings.
- While 'botar' can mean 'to kick out' in Latin America, in many other contexts it can also mean 'to bounce' (like a ball), showing how one word serves two very different physical actions.
Examples in context
- Él fue expulsado del club de fútbol.He was kicked out of the soccer club.
- Debido a su comportamiento inapropiado, el huésped fue desalojado del hotel.Due to his inappropriate behavior, the guest was kicked out of the hotel.
- Ayer, echaron a Juan de la fiesta porque estaba borracho.Yesterday, they kicked Juan out of the party because he was drunk.
- Van a echar al perro del jardín.They are going to kick the dog out of the garden.
- El guardia decidió echar al hombre del club.The guard decided to kick the man out of the club.
- No puedes echar a tus amigos de la casa.You cannot kick your friends out of the house.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are talking about a noisy neighbor.
- Mateo¿Deberíamos echar al vecino ruidoso?Should we kick out the noisy neighbor?
- ElenaNo, Mateo, no es buena idea.No, Mateo, it is not a good idea.
- MateoPero él siempre nos molesta.But he is always bothering us.
- ElenaLo entiendo, pero hay que ser pacientes.I understand, but we have to be patient.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kick out” translations and entries echar, poner de patitas en la calle, botar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries botar, calle, de, echar, en, la, poner, CC BY-SA 4.0.
