drenar
/dɾeˈnaɾ/
The English phrase 'to drain' is translated into Spanish as drenar.
drenar means to remove liquid from a place or object by letting it flow away. This verb is used for large-scale liquid removal, such as draining a pipe. In a medical context, it is also used to describe the process of draining fluid from a wound or an abscess.
Which one should you use?
While drenar is used for large-scale liquid removal, the verb escurrir is more common when referring to draining small amounts of liquid from food, such as draining pasta in a colander.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of drenar is drenado.
How do you pronounce it?
/dɾeˈnaɾ/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word escurrir is used for both 'to drain' and 'to slip'. This means that a kitchen instruction to 'drain the liquid' and a description of someone 'slipping on the floor' can use the exact same verb.
- The Spanish word drenar actually entered the language as a loanword from the French 'drainer', which was itself borrowed from the English 'drain'.
- The term drenar is often used metaphorically in Spanish sports and business to describe the 'draining' of resources or talent from one organization to another.
Examples in context
- El plomero sacó el agua con una bomba para drenar la tubería.The plumber pumped out the water in order to drain the pipe.This sentence shows how a plumber might use a pump to facilitate the use of drenar on a pipe.Tatoeba #4426547 by Serafin, translation #4425710 by AlanF_US
- Drene el agua del fregadero.Drain the water from the sink.
- El fontanero desaguará el sótano.The plumber will drain the basement.
- La receta indica escurrir la pasta.The recipe says to drain the pasta.
- Después de cocinar, vacía el aceite de la sartén.After cooking, drain the oil from the pan.
- El fregadero está obstruido y el agua no se está drenando.The sink is clogged, and the water isn't draining.
- Ella vació el arroz en un colador para escurrir el exceso de agua.She poured the rice into a colander to drain the excess water.
- La piscina necesita ser vaciada y limpiada.The pool needs to be drained and cleaned.
- No olvides escurrir el aceite de la lata de atún antes de usarlo para la ensalada.Don't forget to drain the oil from the tuna can before using it in the salad.
- Debemos drenar el estanque antes del invierno.We must drain the pond before winter.
- Es necesario drenar el exceso de agua del jardín.It is necessary to drain the excess water from the garden.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are cleaning a clogged sink in the kitchen.
- MateoMaría, el fregadero no quiere drenar.María, the sink won't drain.
- MaríaDéjame ver si puedo arreglarlo, Mateo.Let me see if I can fix it, Mateo.
- MateoCreo que debemos usar un producto para drenar la tubería.I think we should use a product to drain the pipe.
- MaríaTienes razón, voy a buscar uno ahora.You are right, I'll look for one now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry drenar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries drenar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
