Meter means 'to put (in)' or 'to insert', and it is a regular -er verb that complements poner: where poner is to place something on a surface, meter is to put something inside. Mete la ropa en la maleta (put the clothes in the suitcase). It appears in useful idioms — meter la pata ('to put your foot in it'), meterse en líos ('to get into trouble'). As a regular -er verb the conjugation is predictable. Knowing the contrast between meter and poner helps you choose the right verb for putting things away.
Quick facts
Meter (to put in) is a regular -er verb.
Real sentences across different tenses — the kind of thing you'd actually say or write.
Mete la ropa en la maleta (put the clothes in the case).
Meter = put inside; poner = place on.
Meter la pata (to put one's foot in it).
Meterse en líos (to get into trouble).
Fixed expressions worth knowing — they come up in listening, reading and writing tasks.
Idiomatic expressions
meter is a regular -er verb — it follows the standard -er pattern in every tense. That makes it a good one to drill: if you know meter, you know the template for all regular -er verbs.
Type conjugations from memory and get instant feedback. That's how you actually build the automatic recall the exam needs — not from reading tables.
Practice meter now →Three questions, no account needed. Type the form, then press Enter or tap Check.
yo: meto, tú: metes, él: mete, nosotros: metemos, vosotros: metéis, ellos: meten
The past participle is metido (he metido) and the gerund is metiendo (estoy metiendo).
Meter is on the AQA and Edexcel GCSE Spanish vocabulary lists, but not on Eduqas.
Verbs that are easy to confuse with meter or that behave like it.
Meter is on the AQA and Edexcel GCSE Spanish vocabulary lists, but not on Eduqas. Compare the exam boards.
Written by Daniel Holmes for GCSE & A-Level Spanish students.