Spanish Phrase
Lavo los platos.
Meaning
Literally, 'I wash the dishes.' It is used to state that the speaker is currently washing, or habitually washes, the dishes after a meal. In Spanish, the verb lavar can also be used with a reflexive form (lavarme los platos) to emphasize that you are doing it yourself.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to tell someone what you are doing in the kitchen, report a completed chore, or describe a routine activity. It works in both informal conversation and neutral contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lavolosplatos
Verb Conjugation (Present Indicative)
Lavo is the first person singular (yo) form of the verb lavar, meaning 'to wash'. In the present indicative, regular -ar verbs drop -ar and add -o for yo.
Definite Article Agreement
Los is the masculine plural definite article, matching the noun platos in gender (masculine) and number (plural).
Direct Object (Plural)
Platos means 'dishes' or 'plates' and serves as the direct object of lavar; it does not need a preposition.
🗨In Conversation
¿Quién lava los platos?
Who is washing the dishes?
Yo los lavo ahora.
I’m washing them now.
✕Common Mistakes
Lavo los plato.
Plural agreement: 'plato' is singular; you need the plural 'platos'.
Lavo los los platos.
Avoid repeating the article; only one definite article is needed.
Lavo los platos ahora mismo.
While not grammatically wrong, native speakers usually prefer the progressive form "Estoy lavando los platos ahora" for immediate actions.
↔Alternatives
Estoy lavando los platos.
I am washing the dishes.
Me lavo los platos.
I wash the dishes (emphasizing that I do it myself).
Lavo los utensilios.
I wash the utensils.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking households, washing dishes is often shared among family members, and it’s common to say "Lavo los platos" as a polite way to offer help. In some regions, especially in Spain, people might say "Lavo los trastes" (trastes = dishes, cookware) instead of platos.