Have you ever asked yourself: what is the right spelling? Echar or hechar? Today our Spanish school El Rincón del Tándem will provide a clarification in this blog. Let’s take a look and start improving your knowledge about Spanish verbs 🙂
When it comes to learning Spanish verbs, it is likely that students will meet some challenges. That is mainly because of irregulars verbs or spelling.
In the latter case we have to pay special attention to those words that begin with an H.
Because H letter is silent in Spanish language we can easily get confused by those Spanish words that sounds the same but have different spelling (with and without H) and meaning.
This happens a lot when it comes to correctly spell echar (or hechar).
What is the correct spelling?
There is a very short and simple explanation that clears up any doubts: echar is the right way to spell and, of the two verbs, it is the only existing one in Spanish.
In fact, hechar does not exist at all in Spanish language. When you find it in a text, you should know that it is a wrong way to spell echar.
Therefore, hecho/hecha/hechos/hechas/ are respectively singular masculine and feminine and plural masculine and feminine forms of the past participle of the verb hacer to do), NOT hechar.
To sum up:
– Between echar and hechar we always choose echar. Hechar does not exist at all and it is not a Spanish verb but a spelling mistake.
– Hecho/a/os/as are forms of the past participle of the verb hacer (to do) and they have nothing to do with hechar.
Hecho/a/os/as are mainly used to form compound tenses. When used in a sentence, it indicates that something has already occurred or an action has already been performed.
Examples:
Ana ha hecho la compra y ha dejado las bolsas encima de la mesa = Ana did the shopping and left all the bags on the table
He hecho los deberes así que ya puedo salir = I have done my homeworks so I can get out
The verb ECHAR
We remind that echar has many meanings. Let’s see the main ones here below:
– To throw out, to kick out
El profesor lo echó de la clase sin ninguna explicación = The teacher kicked him out with no explanation
-To throw
No eches el papel en el contenedor verde = Do not throw paper in the green container
– To fire
El jefe del departamento ha echado a dos empleados = The head of department has fired two employees
– To drop
Puedes echar tu maleta en el sofá = You can drop your luggage on the couch
– To pour
Mario echa agua a las plantas una vez por semana = Mario pours water on his plants once per week.
Furthermore, there are many expression with echar in Spanish.
The most commonly used by Spaniards is echar de menos, that means to miss something or somebody
Echo de menos mis vacaciones en Grecia = I miss my holidays in Greece
Echo mucho de menos a mi sobrina = I really miss my niece
Also, you will frequently find this verb in verbal periphrasis (echar + infinitive) to indicate the beginning of an action.
Antonia echó a correr cuando vió al perro = Antonia started running when saw the dog
We really hope this blog help you master Spanish verbs and pick the right verb between echar and hechar.
Finally, we remind you that our Spanish school El Rincón del Tándem is more than happy to welcome you in Valencia and provide Spanish lessons where you will learn by having fun.
Till the next blog!
