Meaning
To put fuel into a vehicle's tank.
Cultural Background
Self-service is common, but many stations still have attendants during the day. 'Depósito' is the only word used. Attendants are standard. You almost never pump your own gas. 'Tanque' is used instead of 'depósito'. Gas stations are social hubs where people stop for 'facturas' (pastries). They use 'tanque'. The verb 'tanquear' is extremely common and replaces the whole phrase.
Use the pronoun
At a gas station, just say 'Llénalo' (Fill it). It's much more natural than saying the whole phrase.
Fuel types
Make sure to specify 'gasolina' (gas) or 'gasoil/diesel' (diesel) when you fill up.
Meaning
To put fuel into a vehicle's tank.
Use the pronoun
At a gas station, just say 'Llénalo' (Fill it). It's much more natural than saying the whole phrase.
Fuel types
Make sure to specify 'gasolina' (gas) or 'gasoil/diesel' (diesel) when you fill up.
Rental cars
Always keep the receipt after you 'llenar el depósito' to prove to the rental company you did it.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'llenar'.
Mañana nosotros _______ el depósito antes de salir de Madrid.
The subject is 'nosotros', so the verb must end in '-amos'.
Which is the most natural way to ask to fill the tank in Spain?
En la gasolinera dices:
'Llenar el depósito' is the standard collocation in Spain.
Complete the dialogue between a driver and an attendant.
Conductor: Hola. ¿Puede _____ el depósito? Empleado: Sí, ¿gasolina o diesel?
You go to a gas station to fill (llenar) the tank.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situación: Estás devolviendo un coche de alquiler.
Rental cars must be returned with a full tank.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Fueling Vocabulary
Verbs
- • Llenar
- • Echar
- • Repostar
- • Tanquear
Nouns
- • Depósito
- • Tanque
- • Surtidor
- • Manguera
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMañana nosotros _______ el depósito antes de salir de Madrid.
The subject is 'nosotros', so the verb must end in '-amos'.
En la gasolinera dices:
'Llenar el depósito' is the standard collocation in Spain.
Conductor: Hola. ¿Puede _____ el depósito? Empleado: Sí, ¿gasolina o diesel?
You go to a gas station to fill (llenar) the tank.
Situación: Estás devolviendo un coche de alquiler.
Rental cars must be returned with a full tank.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, that's a literal translation from English. Say 'llenar el depósito' or 'echar gasolina'.
Yes, but it sounds Latin American. 'Depósito' is the local preference.
The formal verb is 'repostar'.
You can say 'medio depósito'.
Yes, it follows the standard -ar conjugation rules.
Yes, it is 'llenar EL depósito'.
Say 'Póngame veinte euros de gasolina'.
Yes, it applies to any vehicle with a fuel tank.
The opposite is 'vaciar' (to empty).
In Spain and Mexico it's 'gasolina'. In Argentina and Uruguay, it's 'nafta'.
Related Phrases
Echar gasolina
similarTo put gas in.
Quedarse sin gasolina
contrastTo run out of gas.
Estar en reserva
builds onTo be on reserve/low fuel.
Repostar
synonymTo refuel.
