colgar
Lemma Details
Translation: to hang; to hang up; to suspend; to dangle; to disconnect (a call)
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Colgar comes from Latin 'collocare' meaning 'to place, to put, to arrange'. Over time, the meaning narrowed to specifically placing something in a suspended position. The Latin root 'collocare' also gave English the word 'collocate' (to place together or arrange). The phonetic shift from 'collocare' to 'colgar' follows typical Spanish sound changes where the double 'l' simplified and the intervocalic 'c' was lost.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 20%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Voy a colgar el cuadro en la pared.
I'm going to hang the painting on the wall.
Cuelga tu abrigo en el perchero.
Hang your coat on the coat rack.
Tengo que colgar, hablamos más tarde.
I have to hang up, we'll talk later.
Las lámparas cuelgan del techo.
The lamps hang from the ceiling.
Me dejó colgado en el restaurante.
He stood me up at the restaurant.
Mnemonics
- Think of a 'collar' hanging around someone's neck to remember 'colgar' means 'to hang'.
- The 'col' in 'colgar' can remind you of 'collar', which hangs around your neck.
- Imagine 'calling' someone and then having to 'colgar' (hang up) the phone.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'colgar' is commonly used in everyday contexts, from hanging clothes to ending phone calls. The expression 'dejar colgado a alguien' (to leave someone hanging) is widely used in social situations when someone fails to show up for an appointment or doesn't fulfill a promise.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: Colgar (to hang) is often confused with 'cargar' (to load, to charge) due to their similar spelling and sound.
Confused word:
Voy a cargar mi teléfono.
I'm going to charge my phone.
Notes: Colgar involves suspending something, while cargar involves adding weight or energy to something.
Mnemonic: Colgar has an 'L' like 'lift' (to hang is to lift something up), while cargar has an 'R' like 'recharge'.
Explanation: The stem-changing nature of 'colgar' (o→ue) in present tense can be confused with regular verbs.
Confused word:
Yo colgo mis llaves ayer en otro sitio. (incorrect, should be 'colgué')
I hung my keys somewhere else yesterday.
Notes: Colgar is a stem-changing verb in present tense (o→ue) and past participle (colgado).
Mnemonic: Remember: 'o' changes to 'ue' in present tense forms except nosotros/vosotros.