acostar
/akosˈtaɾ/
To say lay in Spanish, in the sense of laying someone down to rest, use acostar. To put an object down, use poner instead. If unsure, use acostar. Wiktionary also lists echar and tender.
Meaning: to place something down in a position of rest (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| acostar | /akosˈtaɾ/ |
| echar | /eˈt͡ʃaɾ/ |
| tender | /tenˈdeɾ/ |
acostar is used when the action involves lying down or going to bed, such as laying a child down to sleep.
Which one should you use?
echar, often used as echarse, is a more colloquial way to say lie down on a surface like a sofa or bed. tender is for laying something out flat, such as a cloth, a rug or a bedsheet.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and parts of Central America, echar may be used instead of poner for lay in some informal contexts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To say you lay down, as in you went to bed, use the reflexive form acostarse.
How do you pronounce it?
The IPA is /akosˈtaɾ/, with the stress on the last syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mix up the Spanish verbs for lay. If you simply mean to place an object in a spot, use poner.
Did you know?
- The Spanish verb acostar shares its roots with the English word 'accost', which originally meant 'to lie alongside' a person.
Examples in context
- Por la noche llegaron a un gran bosque, y estaban tan cansados por el dolor, el hambre y la caminata, que se acostaron en un árbol hueco y se durmieron.In the evening they came to a large forest, and they were so weary with sorrow and hunger and the long walk, that they lay down in a hollow tree and fell asleep.Here se acostaron is a past form meaning they lay down.Tatoeba #5009309 by albrusgher, translation #4846197 by Hybrid
- Estaba muy cansada, así que me eché en el sofa.I was very tired, so I lay down on the couch.Here me eché is a past form meaning I lay down.
- Por favor, coloque el libro en la mesa.Please lay the book on the table.
- Pon los libros en la mesa.Lay the books on the table.
- colocar los librosLay the books
- poner la toallaLay the towel
- Coloca los cubiertos en la mesaPlace the cutlery on the table
- Ellos colocaron los cuadrosThey laid the paintings
- Ellas pusieron los regalosThey laid the gifts
- Me acosté en la camaI laid down on the bed
- Colocá los platos en el armarioLay the dishes in the cabinet
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are putting a child to sleep.
- SofíaYa es hora de acostar al niño.It is time to lay the boy down now.
- MateoYo lo llevo a su cuarto, Sofía.I will take him to his room, Sofía.
- SofíaNo olvides acostar su peluche a su lado.Do not forget to lay his plushie beside him.
- MateoLo haré ahora mismo, Mateo.I will do it right now, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lay” translations and entries acostar, echar, tender, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries acostar, echar, tender, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
