The Present Tense of Derretir is used to describe actions that are happening right now or that occur habitually. For example, El sol derrite la nieve en la montaña. (The sun melts the snow on the mountain.)
Derretir is a regular -ir verb, which means its conjugations follow the typical pattern for verbs ending in -ir in the present tense.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Derretir (to melt) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | derrito |
| Tú | derrites |
| Él / Ella / Usted | derrite |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | derretimos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | derriten |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Derretir (to melt) in the Present Tense to help you learn faster.
Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop as you study the chart. This repetition will solidify the correct conjugations in your memory.
Usage of Derretir in the Present Tense
Derretir generally means to melt or liquefy something, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.
Literal meaning: To cause something solid to become liquid through the application of heat, for example, El sol derrite la nieve en primavera (The sun melts the snow in spring).
Figurative meaning: To cause someone to become overwhelmed with emotion or desire, for example, Su sonrisa me derrite (Her smile melts me).
Colloquial meaning: To leave or disappear quickly, for example, Me derrito antes de que llegue mi mamá (I’m outta here before my mom arrives).
Slang meaning: To become extremely tired or exhausted, for example, Después de trabajar todo el día, me derrito en el sofá (After working all day, I melt into the couch).
Examples
Examples of Derretir in the Present Tense
El sol derrite la nieve en primavera. (The sun melts the snow in spring.)
Cuando hace mucho calor, el hielo se derrite rápidamente. (When it’s very hot, the ice melts quickly.)
¿Por qué derriten la mantequilla antes de cocinar? (Why do they melt the butter before cooking?)
El calentamiento global derrite los glaciares año tras año. (Global warming melts the glaciers year after year.)
En verano, derretimos chocolate para hacer milkshakes fríos. (In summer, we melt chocolate to make cold milkshakes.)
La cera de las velas se derrite cuando las encendemos. (The candle wax melts when we light them.)
¿Puedes derretir un poco de queso para la nachos? (Can you melt some cheese for the nachos?)
Los niños derriten los dulces al sol cuando hace mucho calor. (The kids melt the candies in the sun when it’s very hot.)
En la panadería, derriten la manteca para hacer pasteles y galletas. (At the bakery, they melt the butter to make cakes and cookies.)
¿Por qué derrites la cera de las velas viejas? (Why do you melt the wax from old candles?)
El calor del desierto derrite el asfalto de las carreteras. (The desert heat melts the asphalt on the roads.)
Cuando derretimos el chocolate, tenemos que tener cuidado de no quemarlo. (When we melt the chocolate, we have to be careful not to burn it.)
La artista derrite vidrio para crear esculturas únicas. (The artist melts glass to create unique sculptures.)
En la fábrica, derriten el metal para moldear piezas nuevas. (At the factory, they melt the metal to mold new parts.)
¿Cómo derriten el hielo tan rápido en las bebidas? (How do they melt the ice so quickly in drinks?)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Derretir (to melt) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo derrito | I melt |
| Tú derrites | You melt |
| Él / Ella / Usted derrite | He / She / You melts |
| Nosotros / Nosotras derretimos | We melt |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes derriten | They / You all melt |
This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here
Synonyms
The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.