Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Melt in Spanish
Derretir · verb · deh-rreh-TEER
Melt in Spanish is 'derretir' (transitive: to melt something) or 'derretirse' (reflexive: for something to melt on its own). For metals and industrial contexts, 'fundir' is preferred. The verb is irregular—it's a stem-changing verb (e→i) like 'pedir' and 'servir.' It's also used figuratively for being emotionally overwhelmed.
Pronounce it deh-rreh-TEER with stress on the final syllable and a rolled 'rr' in the middle. Conjugated forms like 'derrite' are deh-RREE-teh. The stem change affects all forms except nosotros/vosotros.
El sol de la tarde derritió toda la nieve en el jardín.
The afternoon sun melted all the snow in the garden.
Melt in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for melt, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| derretir | melt | deh-rreh-TEER | Default, widely understood |
| fundir | melt | metals/wax | |
| derretirse | melt | reflexive: to melt (intransitive) |
How Native Speakers Use Derretir
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Cooking
Derrite la mantequilla en la sartén antes de agregar los huevos.
Melt the butter in the pan before adding the eggs.
Cooking instruction using the imperative form.
Weather/nature
Con el calor, el helado se derritió antes de que pudiera comérmelo.
With the heat, the ice cream melted before I could eat it.
Reflexive form 'derretirse' for something melting on its own.
Figurative/emotional
Me derrito cada vez que me mira con esos ojos.
I melt every time he looks at me with those eyes.
Figurative use meaning to be overwhelmed by emotion or attraction.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Derretir
Forgetting the stem change
Incorrect: El hielo se derrete rápido.
Correct: El hielo se derrite rápido.
'Derretir' changes its stem vowel from 'e' to 'i' in the present tense (except nosotros/vosotros): derrIto, derrItes, derrIte, derretimos, derretís, derrIten.
Confusing 'derretir' and 'fundir'
Incorrect: Hay que derretir el oro para hacer la joya.
Correct: Hay que fundir el oro para hacer la joya.
For metals and materials requiring very high temperatures (gold, iron, glass), 'fundir' is the standard term. 'Derretir' is for everyday substances like butter, cheese, ice, and chocolate.
Lock in Melt 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 Derretir used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using derretir in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El sol de la tarde derritió toda la nieve en el jardín. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Melt in Spanish
- When do you use 'derretir' vs 'fundir'?
- Use 'derretir' for everyday melting (butter, chocolate, ice cream, snow, cheese) and figurative emotional melting, while 'fundir' is reserved for industrial/high-temperature processes (melting metals, casting, smelting) and also means 'to blow' when referring to electrical fuses or lightbulbs.
- How do you conjugate 'derretir' in present tense?
- As an e→i stem-changing verb, the present tense forms are: yo derrito, tú derrites, él/ella derrite, nosotros derretimos, vosotros derretís, ellos derriten—note the 'i' in all forms except nosotros and vosotros where the original 'e' remains.
- Can 'derretirse' be used figuratively?
- The reflexive 'derretirse' is very commonly used figuratively to mean being overwhelmed by tenderness, love, or attraction—'me derrito por ti' (I melt for you) or 'se derrite con los bebés' (she melts over babies) are natural, everyday expressions in spoken Spanish.