Entregar in English: Meaning, Uses, and the Best Translations

TL;DR

Entregar in English usually means to deliver, to hand in, to submit, to hand over, or to give, depending on context.
For school or work, it often means hand in or submit.
For packages, products, or services, it usually means deliver.
For giving something directly to a person, hand over or give may sound more natural.

The direct answer: what does “entregar” mean in English?

The Spanish verb entregar does not have only one English translation. The best meaning depends on what is being delivered, submitted, or given.

The most common translations of entregar in English are:

Spanish	English	Best context
entregar un paquete	deliver a package	logistics, shipping
entregar una tarea	hand in an assignment	school, university
entregar un informe	submit a report	work, official documents
entregar las llaves	hand over the keys	direct transfer
entregar un premio	present an award	ceremonies
entregarse a la policía	turn oneself in	legal context
entregarse a una causa	devote oneself to a cause	emotional or abstract use

In simple terms, entregar means that something passes from one person, place, or system to another. That “something” may be physical, like a package, or non-physical, like homework, a report, responsibility, or loyalty.

A Spanish speaker may want one clean English equivalent, but English separates these meanings more clearly. That is why deliver, submit, hand in, hand over, and give can all be correct.

Why “entregar” is tricky for Spanish speakers

The verb entregar feels broad in Spanish. It can be used in everyday conversation, business, school, logistics, law, and emotional language. English is more specific. A sentence that uses entregar in Spanish may need a different verb in English depending on the situation.

For example:

• Tengo que entregar la tarea mañana.
  Natural English: I have to hand in the assignment tomorrow.

• La empresa entrega los pedidos los viernes.
  Natural English: The company delivers orders on Fridays.

• El gerente entregó el informe al director.
  Natural English: The manager submitted the report to the director.

• El sospechoso se entregó a la policía.
  Natural English: The suspect turned himself in to the police.

A literal translation, such as “deliver the homework,” may be understood, but it can sound unnatural in everyday English. In academic contexts, hand in and submit are usually better.

Main meanings of “entregar in English”

1. Entregar = to deliver

Deliver is the best translation when talking about transportation, shipping, mail, food, products, or services.

Examples:

• El repartidor entregó el paquete.
  The delivery driver delivered the package.

• Entregamos a domicilio.
  We deliver to homes.
  Better in third-person style: The company delivers to homes.

• La tienda entrega los muebles en tres días.
  The store delivers the furniture in three days.

• La carta fue entregada ayer.
  The letter was delivered yesterday.

In business English, deliver can also mean complete a promise or produce results.

• El equipo entregó el proyecto a tiempo.
  The team delivered the project on time.

• La empresa debe entregar resultados.
  The company must deliver results.

Here, deliver does not only mean physically transporting something. It means fulfilling an obligation.

2. Entregar = to hand in

Hand in is common in school, university, and informal office contexts. It means giving completed work to a teacher, manager, or organization.

Examples:

• Los estudiantes deben entregar la tarea el lunes.
  The students must hand in the homework on Monday.

• Ella entregó el ensayo tarde.
  She handed in the essay late.

• Hay que entregar el formulario antes de las cinco.
  The form must be handed in before five.

Hand in sounds natural when the task is completed and given to someone for review. In American and British English, it is widely understood. In formal writing, submit may be better.

3. Entregar = to submit

Submit is more formal than hand in. It is very common with applications, reports, proposals, assignments, forms, and official documents.

Examples:

• Entregó la solicitud en línea.
  He submitted the application online.

• La compañía entregó una propuesta.
  The company submitted a proposal.

• Deben entregar el informe final esta semana.
  They must submit the final report this week.

• El documento fue entregado por correo electrónico.
  The document was submitted by email.

Submit is especially useful for professional English. It works well in emails, academic writing, corporate communication, and government forms.

A learner preparing for English-speaking workplaces should know the difference between hand in and submit:

• Hand in: common, everyday, often physical or school-related
• Submit: formal, professional, often digital or official

4. Entregar = to hand over

Hand over means giving control or possession of something to another person. It is common when the transfer is direct and sometimes official.

Examples:

• Entregó las llaves al nuevo dueño.
  He handed over the keys to the new owner.

• La policía pidió que entregara el arma.
  The police asked him to hand over the weapon.

• El director entregó el cargo a su sucesora.
  The director handed over the position to his successor.

Hand over can sound stronger than give. It often suggests authority, responsibility, pressure, or a formal transfer.

Compare:

• He gave her the keys.
  Neutral and simple.

• He handed over the keys.
  More formal, possibly official, possibly after a sale, negotiation, or demand.

5. Entregar = to give

Sometimes entregar simply means give, especially when the sentence is general and does not require a more specific verb.

Examples:

• Le entregó una carta.
  She gave him a letter.

• El profesor entregó los exámenes.
  The teacher gave out the exams.

• La recepcionista entregó las tarjetas.
  The receptionist gave out the cards.

However, give is very broad. In many contexts, a more specific verb sounds better:

• deliver a package
• submit a report
• hand in homework
• hand over keys
• present an award
• give out papers

Common phrases with “entregar” and their English translations

Entregar la tarea

Best translations:

• hand in the homework
• turn in the homework, especially in American English
• submit the assignment, more formal

Examples:

• Necesito entregar la tarea hoy.
  The student needs to hand in the homework today.

• Entregaron la tarea por internet.
  They submitted the assignment online.

Entregar un trabajo

This can mean schoolwork, professional work, or a project. The translation depends on the context.

Examples:

• Entregar un trabajo para la universidad
  submit a paper or hand in an assignment

• Entregar un trabajo al cliente
  deliver work to the client

• Entregar un proyecto final
  submit a final project or deliver a final project

Entregar un informe

Best translations:

• submit a report
• deliver a report, less common if it means sending it
• hand in a report, less formal

Example:

• El departamento entregó el informe financiero.
  The department submitted the financial report.

Entregar un paquete

Best translation:

• deliver a package

Example:

• La empresa entregó el paquete en la dirección equivocada.
  The company delivered the package to the wrong address.

Entregar una solicitud

Best translation:

• submit an application

Example:

• Ella entregó la solicitud antes de la fecha límite.
  She submitted the application before the deadline.

Entregar las llaves

Best translations:

• hand over the keys
• give someone the keys

Example:

• El inquilino entregó las llaves al propietario.
  The tenant handed over the keys to the landlord.

Entregarse a la policía

Best translation:

• turn oneself in to the police

Examples:

• El sospechoso se entregó a la policía.
  The suspect turned himself in to the police.

• La sospechosa se entregó ayer.
  The suspect turned herself in yesterday.

This is a reflexive use: entregarse. It does not mean “deliver oneself” in normal English.

Entregarse a algo

When entregarse a means giving energy, emotion, or commitment to something, English often uses devote oneself to, dedicate oneself to, or give oneself to.

Examples:

• Se entregó a la música.
  She devoted herself to music.

• Se entregaron a la causa.
  They dedicated themselves to the cause.

• Está completamente entregado a su trabajo.
  He is completely devoted to his work.

This meaning is more emotional or literary.

“Entregar” vs “dar” in English

Spanish learners often ask whether entregar is just dar, meaning to give. The answer is: sometimes, but not always.

Dar usually means to give in a general way.

• Le di un regalo.
  I gave him a gift.

Entregar often suggests completion, transfer, responsibility, or a required action.

• Entregué el formulario.
  The form was submitted.
  Or: He submitted the form.

A useful distinction:

Spanish verb	Core idea	Common English
dar	giving something	give
entregar	giving something formally, completely, or for a purpose	deliver, submit, hand in, hand over
llevar	taking something somewhere	take, carry
traer	bringing something here	bring

For a broader comparison of practical Spanish verbs in English, learners may also review pagar in english and trabajar in english, since verbs like pagar, trabajar, and entregar often appear together in workplace, school, and daily-life conversations.

“Entregar” in business English

In professional settings, entregar often translates as deliver or submit.

Deliver in business

English speakers use deliver when a team produces work, meets a promise, or completes a project.

Examples:

• El equipo entregó el proyecto antes de la fecha límite.
  The team delivered the project before the deadline.

• El proveedor no entregó lo prometido.
  The supplier did not deliver what was promised.

• La campaña entregó buenos resultados.
  The campaign delivered good results.

In this context, deliver means “produce successfully,” not only “transport.”

Submit in business

Use submit for reports, documents, applications, forms, proposals, and requests.

Examples:

• Por favor, entregue la factura antes del viernes.
  Please submit the invoice before Friday.

• La empresa entregó su propuesta al comité.
  The company submitted its proposal to the committee.

• El candidato entregó todos los documentos requeridos.
  The candidate submitted all required documents.

In formal emails, submit is usually better than hand in.

“Entregar” in academic English

In schools and universities, entregar may translate as hand in, turn in, or submit.

Hand in

Common in general school English:

• Los alumnos entregaron sus cuadernos.
  The students handed in their notebooks.

Turn in

Very common in American English:

• Tienes que entregar el ensayo mañana.
  The student has to turn in the essay tomorrow.

Submit

More formal and common for online systems:

• Entregue su tarea en la plataforma.
  Submit the assignment on the platform.

A simple rule:

• Paper to a teacher: hand in or turn in
• Online platform: submit
• Formal university document: submit
• Casual classroom conversation: hand in or turn in

“Entregar” in shipping and logistics

For deliveries, the correct English verb is usually deliver.

Examples:

• El pedido será entregado mañana.
  The order will be delivered tomorrow.

• No entregan los domingos.
  They do not deliver on Sundays.

• El paquete fue entregado al vecino.
  The package was delivered to the neighbor.

• La entrega está programada para las 10 a. m.
  The delivery is scheduled for 10 a.m.

The noun form is also important:

Spanish	English
entregar	deliver
entrega	delivery
entregado	delivered
repartidor	delivery driver
dirección de entrega	delivery address
fecha de entrega	delivery date

A common mistake is translating entrega as “deliver.” In English, deliver is the verb and delivery is the noun.

Correct:

• The delivery is late.
• The company will deliver the order tomorrow.

Incorrect:

• The deliver is late.

Past tense and grammar: delivered, submitted, handed in

Because entregar in English can become several different verbs, learners should focus on the grammar of the English verb they choose.

Deliver

• Present: deliver, delivers
• Past: delivered
• Past participle: delivered
• Noun: delivery

Examples:

• The courier delivers packages.
• The courier delivered the package.
• The package has been delivered.

Submit

• Present: submit, submits
• Past: submitted
• Past participle: submitted
• Noun: submission

Examples:

• The applicant submits the form.
• The applicant submitted the form.
• The form has been submitted.

Hand in

• Present: hand in, hands in
• Past: handed in
• Past participle: handed in
• Noun phrase: hand-in, less common

Examples:

• The student hands in homework every Friday.
• The student handed in the homework late.
• The homework was handed in late.

Hand over

• Present: hand over, hands over
• Past: handed over
• Past participle: handed over
• Noun: handover

Examples:

• The manager hands over responsibility.
• The manager handed over responsibility.
• The handover took two weeks.

Pronunciation of “entregar” and its English equivalents

Spanish entregar is pronounced approximately:

en-treh-GAR

The stress falls on the final syllable: GAR.

English equivalents have different stress patterns:

• deliver: di-LI-ver
• submit: sub-MIT
• hand in: HAND in
• hand over: HAND OH-ver
• turn in: TURN in
• devote: di-VOTE

A learner should not try to make one English word cover every use of entregar. Instead, the speaker should choose the English phrase that matches the action.

Common mistakes with “entregar in English”

Mistake 1: Using “deliver” for homework every time

Spanish: Tengo que entregar mi tarea.
Unnatural: I have to deliver my homework.
Natural: I have to hand in my homework.
Formal: I have to submit my assignment.

Mistake 2: Translating “entrega” as “deliver”

Spanish: La entrega llegó tarde.
Incorrect: The deliver arrived late.
Correct: The delivery arrived late.

Mistake 3: Using “submit” for physical handovers

Spanish: Entregó las llaves.
Awkward: He submitted the keys.
Natural: He handed over the keys.
Also possible: He gave them the keys.

Mistake 4: Translating “se entregó” literally

Spanish: Se entregó a la policía.
Incorrect: He delivered himself to the police.
Correct: He turned himself in to the police.

Mistake 5: Ignoring tone

Spanish: Entregue el formulario antes del viernes.
Too casual in a formal email: Hand in the form before Friday.
Better: Please submit the form before Friday.

Tone matters. English often requires a more formal verb in professional settings.

Quick decision guide: which English word should be used?

Use this guide when translating entregar:

1. Is it a package, food, mail, or product?
   Use deliver.

2. Is it homework or schoolwork?
   Use hand in, turn in, or submit.

3. Is it a report, application, invoice, proposal, or official document?
   Use submit.

4. Is it a direct transfer of keys, control, money, evidence, or responsibility?
   Use hand over.

5. Is it a ceremony or prize?
   Use present or give.

6. Is it about the police?
   Use turn oneself in.

7. Is it emotional commitment?
   Use devote oneself to or dedicate oneself to.

Example sentences with “entregar” in English

Here are practical examples across common contexts.

Daily life

• Voy a entregar este paquete.
  The person is going to deliver this package.

• Ella entregó el regalo personalmente.
  She gave the gift in person.

• El mensajero entregó la carta.
  The messenger delivered the letter.

School

• Los estudiantes entregaron sus proyectos.
  The students handed in their projects.

• La tarea debe entregarse antes de medianoche.
  The assignment must be submitted before midnight.

• No entregó el ensayo a tiempo.
  He did not turn in the essay on time.

Work

• El equipo entregó la presentación final.
  The team delivered the final presentation.

• El analista entregó el informe.
  The analyst submitted the report.

• La agencia entregó el trabajo terminado.
  The agency delivered the finished work.

Legal and official contexts

• Entregaron los documentos al tribunal.
  They submitted the documents to the court.

• El acusado se entregó.
  The accused person turned himself in.

• La empresa entregó los registros solicitados.
  The company handed over the requested records.

Emotional or abstract meaning

• Se entregó completamente al proyecto.
  She devoted herself completely to the project.

• El artista se entregó a su obra.
  The artist gave himself to his work.

• Están entregados a la causa.
  They are dedicated to the cause.

Related noun: “entrega” in English

The noun entrega can mean delivery, submission, handover, installment, or dedication, depending on context.

Examples:

• La entrega del paquete
  The delivery of the package

• La entrega del informe
  The submission of the report

• La entrega de las llaves
  The handover of the keys

• La primera entrega de una serie
  The first installment of a series

• Su entrega al trabajo
  His dedication to work

This is important because entregar and entrega do not always share one English root. A sentence may need deliver, but the noun may be delivery. Another may need submit, with the noun submission.

Best translations by context

Context	Spanish example	Best English translation
Shipping	entregar un paquete	deliver a package
Food service	entregar comida	deliver food
School	entregar la tarea	hand in homework, turn in homework
Online school	entregar una tarea en línea	submit an assignment online
Office	entregar un informe	submit a report
Client work	entregar un proyecto	deliver a project
Keys or control	entregar las llaves	hand over the keys
Police	entregarse a la policía	turn oneself in to the police
Ceremony	entregar un premio	present an award
Commitment	entregarse a una causa	devote oneself to a cause

How to practice “entregar in English”

The most effective practice is context-based. A learner should not memorize “entregar = deliver” and stop there. Instead, the learner should connect each Spanish phrase with a natural English phrase.

Useful practice patterns:

• entregar un paquete = deliver a package
• entregar la tarea = hand in homework
• entregar un informe = submit a report
• entregar las llaves = hand over the keys
• entregarse a la policía = turn oneself in
• entregarse al trabajo = devote oneself to work

It also helps to build short English sentences:

• The package was delivered.
• The assignment was submitted.
• The keys were handed over.
• The suspect turned himself in.
• She devoted herself to the project.

A tutor with high proficiency, ideally with Spanish-English teaching experience, can help learners hear which option sounds natural in real conversation. This is especially useful because many translations are technically correct but not equally natural.

FAQ: “entregar in English”

1. What is the main meaning of “entregar” in English?

The main meaning of entregar is to deliver, to hand in, to submit, or to hand over. The correct translation depends on context. Packages are delivered, homework is handed in or submitted, and keys are often handed over.

2. Does “entregar” mean “deliver”?

Yes, entregar can mean deliver, especially for packages, mail, food, orders, products, and services. For example, entregar un paquete means deliver a package. However, deliver is not always the best translation.

3. How does one say “entregar la tarea” in English?

Entregar la tarea is usually hand in the homework, turn in the homework, or submit the assignment. Submit is more formal and common for online platforms. Turn in is common in American English.

4. What does “entregarse” mean in English?

Entregarse can mean different things. In a legal context, entregarse a la policía means turn oneself in to the police. In an emotional or abstract context, entregarse a una causa means devote oneself to a cause.

5. What is the English noun for “entrega”?

The noun entrega can be delivery, submission, handover, installment, or dedication. For example, la entrega del paquete is the delivery of the package, while la entrega del informe is the submission of the report.

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