pagar

to pay

verb pah-GAHR Common

Origin: From Latin pacare (to appease, satisfy a creditor).

Usage Note

Pagar has a spelling change in the preterite: pagué (not pagé) — the -gu- preserves the hard 'g' before -e. The phrase pagar en efectivo means 'to pay in cash'; pagar con tarjeta means 'to pay by card'. Pagar el pato ('to pay the duck') is a common idiom meaning 'to take the blame' or 'to be the fall guy'.

Examples

"Tengo que pagar la factura hoy."

Natural Translation

I have to pay the bill today.

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