Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Wash in Spanish: Lavar
Lavar · verb · lah-BAHR
Wash in Spanish is lavar, a regular -ar verb covering washing clothes, dishes, cars, and any object. The reflexive form lavarse means to wash oneself — as in lavarse las manos (to wash your hands). Lavar is one of the first household verbs learners encounter because it appears in daily routines everywhere.
Pronounce lavar as lah-BAHR, with stress on the second syllable. The v sounds like a soft b.
Tengo que lavar la ropa antes de que se acumule.
I have to wash the clothes before they pile up.
Wash in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for wash, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| lavar | wash | lah-BAHR | Default, widely understood |
| lavarse | wash | reflexive: to wash oneself |
How Native Speakers Use Lavar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Doing laundry
Los sábados siempre lavo toda la ropa de la semana.
On Saturdays I always wash all the week's clothes.
Lavar la ropa is the standard phrase for doing laundry.
Washing dishes
¿Puedes lavar los platos mientras yo cocino?
Can you wash the dishes while I cook?
Lavar los platos or fregar los platos (in some regions) means doing the dishes.
Washing the car
Llevé el carro al autolavado porque estaba lleno de lodo.
I took the car to the car wash because it was covered in mud.
Autolavado is the compound noun for a car wash establishment.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Lavar
Forgetting the reflexive for body parts
Incorrect: Lavo las manos antes de comer.
Correct: Me lavo las manos antes de comer.
When washing your own body parts, Spanish requires the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se) and the definite article before the body part, not a possessive adjective.
Using limpiar when meaning lavar
Incorrect: Voy a limpiar la ropa en la lavadora.
Correct: Voy a lavar la ropa en la lavadora.
Limpiar means to clean in general (sweep, wipe, tidy). Lavar specifically means to wash with water. Clothes go in the lavadora (washing machine) to be lavados, not limpiados.
Lock in Wash 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 Lavar used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using lavar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Tengo que lavar la ropa antes de que se acumule. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Wash in Spanish
- How do you say wash in Spanish?
- Wash is lavar in Spanish, a regular -ar verb. Use it for washing clothes, dishes, cars, and objects. For washing your own body, use the reflexive form lavarse.
- What is the difference between lavar and lavarse?
- Lavar is for washing objects: lavar los platos (wash the dishes), lavar el carro (wash the car). Lavarse is reflexive, meaning you wash yourself or your own body parts: me lavo la cara (I wash my face).
- How do you say washing machine in Spanish?
- Washing machine is lavadora, derived directly from lavar. Some countries also use lavarropas (literally 'clothes washer'), especially in Argentina and Uruguay.