Get Rid of Them in Spanish | Polite Phrases That Work

Use “deshacerte de ellos” for things, “quitártelos de encima” for pushy people, and “eliminarlos” for problems.

You can’t translate “get rid of them” one single way in Spanish and expect it to land right every time. Spanish forces you to pick the real meaning: are “them” objects you’re throwing away, people you want off your back, or issues you want gone?

Once you choose the meaning, the Spanish gets easy. You’ll know which verb fits, which pronoun to use, where to place it, and how to keep the tone calm instead of harsh.

This article gives you clear options you can say out loud, plus quick sentence patterns you can reuse in texts, calls, and daily talk.

What “Get Rid Of Them” Means In Real Life

In English, “get rid of them” covers a lot of ground. In Spanish, each meaning tends to live with a different verb. Start by sorting your situation into one of these buckets.

Things You’re discarding or removing

This is the “I don’t want these items anymore” meaning: old clothes, boxes, broken gadgets, extra papers, clutter, leftovers, duplicates. Spanish often uses reflexive phrasing that feels like “to get yourself free of them.”

People who are bothering you

This is the “please stop bothering me” meaning: someone won’t stop calling, a salesperson won’t leave, a stranger keeps pushing into your time, a relative won’t drop a topic. Spanish has idioms for shaking someone off without sounding like a villain.

Problems, risks, tasks, debts, habits

This is the “I want this issue gone” meaning: bugs in software, bad smells, a stain, spam messages, a worry that keeps coming back. Spanish often leans on verbs like “eliminar” or “quitar” depending on what you’re removing.

Get Rid of Them in Spanish

If you want a dependable base translation that works for lots of “things” cases, start with deshacerte de ellos (or deshacerte de ellas for feminine nouns). It carries the idea of freeing yourself of something. The Diccionario panhispánico de dudas entry for “deshacer(se)” notes the pronominal use tied to getting free of something or someone. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

That said, Spanish speakers often prefer shorter choices in day-to-day talk, especially when the noun is already known. You can pick the one that matches your tone and setting.

Use “Deshacerme de…” for objects and possessions

Me voy a deshacer de ellos. = I’m going to get rid of them.

Quiero deshacerme de estas cosas. = I want to get rid of these things.

This feels normal in conversation and works in writing too.

Use “Tirarlos” or “Botarlos” for throwing away

If you mean trash, say it. Spanish likes direct action verbs.

• Voy a tirarlos. (Spain and many regions)
• Voy a botarlos. (common in several Latin American regions)
• Voy a echarlos a la basura. (clear, neutral)

Pick the verb that matches what you’re doing. If you’re donating, “donarlos” works. If you’re selling, “venderlos” works.

Use “Eliminar” for removing problems, clutter, or items in a system

For deleting files, removing entries, or clearing something out, eliminar fits well. The RAE definition for “eliminar” includes the sense of removing or excluding something. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

• Necesito eliminarlos del sistema.
• Elimínalos de la lista.
• Quiero eliminar esos errores.

Getting Rid Of Them In Spanish With The Right Tone

Tone changes everything when “them” refers to people. In English, “get rid of them” can sound light or harsh depending on context. Spanish has options that let you stay polite while still setting a boundary.

Use “Quitarme los de encima” for “get them off my back”

This is a classic phrase for shaking off a nuisance. The RAE entry for “quitar” includes the expression “quitarse de encima” with the idea of freeing yourself from a bother. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Common patterns:

• No me los quito de encima. = I can’t get rid of them (they won’t stop).
• Me los quité de encima en cinco minutos. = I got them off my back in five minutes.
• Quiero quitármelos de encima. = I want to shake them off.

It’s informal. Use it with friends, not in a formal email.

Use a calm boundary instead of a blunt “get rid of them”

If you’re speaking to a coworker, a neighbor, or someone you’ll see again, a boundary line often lands better than any idiom. Try one of these:

• Ahora no puedo. = I can’t right now.
• Lo dejamos para otro día. = Let’s leave it for another day.
• Gracias, ya está. = Thanks, that’s enough.
• Necesito un momento. = I need a moment.

You still get what you want: space. You just avoid sounding like you’re plotting to remove a person from existence.

Use “Echarlos” only when it’s literally about removing people

Echar can mean to kick out. It’s strong. Use it only when you mean it literally.

• Los echaron del local. = They kicked them out of the place.
• Échalos. = Kick them out. (sharp)

Now that you’ve got the meaning and the tone, the next step is getting the pronouns right, since “them” drives the whole sentence.

Fast Picks For “Get Rid Of Them” By Meaning

What “them” refers to	Best Spanish options	When it fits
Old items you don’t want	Deshacerme de ellos / Deshacerme de ellas	Neutral talk, written notes, general “remove from my life”
Trash you’ll throw away	Tirarlos / Botarlos / Echarlos a la basura	When you mean “throw out”
Files, entries, errors	Eliminarlos	Apps, lists, systems, tech talk
Bad smells, stains	Eliminarlo(s) / Quitarlo(s)	Cleaning, fixing, removing a nuisance
Pushy people, constant calls	Quitármelos de encima	Casual talk, when someone won’t leave you alone
A person you need to ask to leave	Que se vaya / Que se marchen	Direct request, less slang
Rules or access you want to remove	Quitarles el acceso / Sacarlos de (un grupo)	Groups, chats, permissions, admin talk
Extra clutter you’ll donate or sell	Donarlos / Venderlos	When you want the action to be clear

How To Choose “Ellos,” “Ellas,” “Los,” “Las,” And “Les”

English “them” hides gender and grammar. Spanish won’t. Start with the noun you’re talking about. If it’s masculine plural, you’ll usually use ellos (as a subject) and los (as an object). If it’s feminine plural, you’ll use ellas and las.

Subject pronouns: “ellos/ellas”

Use these when “they” is doing the action.

• Ellos se fueron. = They left.
• Ellas ya llegaron. = They arrived.

Object pronouns: “los/las/les”

Use these when “them” receives the action.

• Los tiré. = I threw them out. (masc. plural)
• Las doné. = I donated them. (fem. plural)
• Les dije la verdad. = I told them the truth. (indirect object)

Why “se” sometimes replaces “le/les”

When Spanish stacks an indirect-object pronoun with a direct-object pronoun in third person, le/les changes to se. This prevents an awkward sound pattern. The Instituto Cervantes forum explanation on direct and indirect object pronouns shows how these pronouns behave in real sentences. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

So you get:

• Se los di. = I gave them to him/her/you (formal) / I gave them to them.
• Se las mandé. = I sent them to him/her/them. (feminine plural direct object)

Pronoun Placement That Sounds Natural

Spanish gives you two clean options for “them” pronouns: before a conjugated verb, or attached to an infinitive, gerund, or command. Pick the one that sounds smoother for the sentence.

Before a conjugated verb

• Los voy a tirar.
• Las quiero donar.
• No me los quito de encima.

Attached to an infinitive or gerund

• Voy a tirarlos.
• Quiero donarlas.
• Estoy eliminándolos.

Both are correct. In speech, people often choose the option that keeps the sentence flowing.

With commands

Positive commands attach the pronoun. Negative commands place it before the verb.

• Tíralos. / No los tires.
• Elimínalos. / No los elimines.
• Quítatelos de encima. / No te los quites de encima aún.

“Them” Pronouns In The Sentences You’ll Use Most

What you want to say	Spanish pattern	Sample sentence
Get rid of these things	Deshacerme de + ellos/ellas	Quiero deshacerme de ellos hoy.
Throw them away	Los/Las + tirar	Los tiro ahora.
Delete them (files/items)	Los/Las + eliminar	Elimínalos de la carpeta.
They won’t leave me alone	No + me + los/las + quitar + de encima	No me los quito de encima.
Get them off your back (command)	Quitar + te + los/las + de encima	Quítatelos de encima.
I gave them to him/her/them	Se + los/las + dar	Se los di ayer.
I sent them to him/her/them	Se + los/las + mandar	Se las mandé por mensaje.

Common Mistakes That Make Native Speakers Pause

Most errors come from trying to keep the English structure. Fix these and your Spanish will sound far more natural.

Using “librarse” without “de”

Librarse needs de when you mean getting free of something.

• Me libré de ellos. (works)
• Me libré ellos. (wrong)

Mixing up “los/las” and “les”

Los/las are direct-object pronouns. Les is an indirect-object pronoun. If you can swap “them” with “it” in English, you often need a direct object in Spanish.

• Los tiré. = I threw them away. (direct)
• Les tiré. sounds like “I threw (something) to them.”

Choosing a verb that sounds too extreme for people

Eliminar can be normal for files, errors, stains. For people, it can sound like you mean removing them from a group or worse. Use it with care. If you mean “remove them from the chat,” say that directly:

• Los saqué del grupo.
• Les quité el acceso.

Copy-Paste Mini Scripts You Can Reuse

These are short and flexible. Swap the noun and you’re set.

For stuff at home

• Voy a deshacerme de estas cajas.
• Voy a donarlas.
• Ya no las quiero, las voy a tirar.

For spam, files, admin work

• Elimínalos del sistema.
• Voy a borrarlos.
• Los saco de la lista.

For someone who won’t stop

• Ahora no puedo, luego hablamos.
• Gracias, ya está.
• No me los quito de encima. (casual)

A Simple Practice Drill That Sticks

If you want this to feel automatic, do a quick swap drill. Pick one noun group and run it through three verbs: deshacerme de, tirar, eliminar. Then add the pronoun version.

Try it with “papeles” (masculine plural):

• Quiero deshacerme de los papeles. → Quiero deshacerme de ellos.
• Voy a tirar los papeles. → Voy a tirarlos.
• Necesito eliminar los papeles de la lista. → Necesito eliminarlos de la lista.

Do the same with a feminine plural noun like “cosas” and you’ll train your ear for las and ellas.