Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Drown in Spanish: Ahogarse
Ahogarse · verb (reflexive) · ah-oh-GAR-seh
The Spanish verb for 'to drown' is 'ahogarse,' a reflexive verb. When non-reflexive ('ahogar'), it means to drown someone or something. The word also extends to choking—'ahogarse con comida' means choking on food. Context determines whether the meaning involves water or choking.
Say ah-oh-GAR-seh for the infinitive. In conjugated forms like 'se ahoga' (he/she drowns), say seh ah-OH-gah.
El salvavidas rescató al niño que se estaba ahogando.
The lifeguard rescued the child who was drowning.
Drown in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for drown, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ahogarse | drown | ah-oh-GAR-seh | Default, widely understood |
| ahogar | drown | non-reflexive form, to drown someone |
How Native Speakers Use Ahogarse
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Water safety
Es importante aprender a nadar para no ahogarse.
It's important to learn to swim to avoid drowning.
Discussing water safety tips.
News report
Tres personas se ahogaron en el lago el verano pasado.
Three people drowned in the lake last summer.
Reporting a tragic incident.
Choking
Se estaba ahogando con un trozo de pan.
He was choking on a piece of bread.
Describing a choking incident at a meal.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ahogarse
Forgetting reflexive pronoun
Incorrect: El nadador ahogó en el río.
Correct: El nadador se ahogó en el río.
When someone drowns (intransitive), the reflexive form 'ahogarse' is required. Without 'se,' 'ahogó' means he drowned someone else.
Confusing with sumergir
Incorrect: Se sumergió en la piscina y no pudo salir.
Correct: Se ahogó en la piscina.
'Sumergir' means to submerge or dive under water voluntarily. 'Ahogarse' specifically means to drown, implying an inability to breathe.
Lock in Drown Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Ahogarse used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using ahogarse in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El salvavidas rescató al niño que se estaba ahogando. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Drown in Spanish
- Can ahogarse mean both drowning and choking?
- Indeed, 'ahogarse' covers both drowning in water and choking on food or an object, with the context or a prepositional phrase like 'en el agua' or 'con la comida' clarifying the specific meaning.
- How do you say 'he drowned someone' in Spanish?
- To express drowning someone else, use the non-reflexive form: 'ahogó a alguien,' where the absence of the reflexive pronoun indicates the action was done to another person.
- What is the past tense of ahogarse?
- The preterite forms include 'me ahogué' (I drowned), 'te ahogaste' (you drowned), and 'se ahogó' (he/she drowned), following regular -ar verb conjugation patterns.