Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Meter in Spanish: Metro and Meter
Metro · noun (masculine) / verb · MEH-troh
Meter in Spanish splits into two words depending on meaning. Metro is the unit of measurement (one meter, the subway). Meter is a separate verb meaning to put in or to insert. A measuring device like a gas meter is medidor. This three-way split catches English speakers off guard.
Metro is MEH-troh, two syllables, stress on MEH. The verb meter is meh-TEHR, stress on the second syllable.
La mesa mide un metro de largo.
The table is one meter long.
Meter in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for meter, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| metro | meter | MEH-troh | Default, widely understood |
| medidor | meter | measuring device — gas meter, water meter, electric meter | |
| meter (verb) | meter | to put in, to insert — a completely different word |
How Native Speakers Use Metro
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Unit of length
El pasillo tiene tres metros de ancho.
The hallway is three meters wide.
Metro is the standard unit of length in all Spanish-speaking countries, which use the metric system.
Verb: to put inside
Mete la ropa en la maleta antes de que se arrugue.
Put the clothes in the suitcase before they wrinkle.
Meter as a verb means to put something inside something else. It is extremely common in daily speech.
Measuring device
El técnico vino a revisar el medidor de gas.
The technician came to check the gas meter.
Medidor is the word for a measuring device, not metro. Medidor de agua, medidor de luz.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Metro
Using metro for a measuring device
Incorrect: Hay que cambiar el metro de la electricidad.
Correct: Hay que cambiar el medidor de la electricidad.
Metro is the unit of length or the subway. The device that measures consumption is a medidor. Confusing the two creates an odd sentence.
Confusing meter (verb) with medir
Incorrect: Voy a meter la distancia de la pared.
Correct: Voy a medir la distancia de la pared.
Meter means to put inside. Medir means to measure. Despite sounding similar, they are different verbs with different meanings.
Lock in Meter 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 Metro used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using metro in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La mesa mide un metro de largo. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Meter in Spanish
- How do you say meter in Spanish?
- The unit of measurement is metro. The device (gas meter, water meter) is medidor. The verb meaning to put inside is meter. These three translations cover the main uses of the English word meter.
- What is the difference between metro and medidor?
- Metro is the unit of length (100 centimeters) and also the word for subway in many countries. Medidor is a device that measures something: medidor de gas, medidor de agua, medidor de electricidad.
- What does the Spanish verb meter mean?
- The verb meter means to put in, insert, or place something inside. Meter la mano en el bolsillo (put your hand in your pocket), meter las llaves en el bolso (put the keys in the bag). It is one of the most common verbs in colloquial Spanish.