Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): La lavadora está llena; no metas más ropa. - The washing machine is full; don’t put in more clothes.

Use estar for temporary states or conditions. A washer being full is a current state, so La lavadora está llena is correct. Using ser (e.g., es llena) would sound wrong here.

Why is it llena and not lleno?

Adjectives agree with the noun in gender and number. Lavadora is feminine singular, so the adjective is llena (not lleno).

What verb form is metas in no metas?

It’s the negative tú command, which uses the present subjunctive: (tú) no metas. The affirmative tú command would be mete.

How would this change for formal or plural you?

Usted: No meta más ropa.
Ustedes: No metan más ropa.
Voseo (common in parts of Latin America): affirmative often meté; negative is usually no metas (Rioplatense) or no metás (Central America).

Where do pronouns go with commands?

Negative commands: pronouns go before the verb. Example: No la metas (Don’t put it in), where la refers to la ropa.
Affirmative commands: attach pronouns to the verb. Example: Métela (Put it in). If you mention the washer as the place, you can add an indirect object: No le metas más ropa (a la lavadora).

Do I need to say en la lavadora after meter?

Not if context is clear. Meter typically implies putting something into a container, so no metas más ropa is natural when you’re standing by the washer. If needed, you can say No metas más ropa en la lavadora.

Is meter the best verb here? What about poner, echar, or agregar?

Meter = put/insert into something (perfect for containers like a washer).
Poner = put/place (more general; also common: No pongas más ropa).
Echar = pour/throw in; widely used for adding ingredients or detergent and in some regions for putting things in: No eches más ropa (regional).
Agregar/Añadir = add; emphasizes adding more: No agregues más ropa.

Why is there no article before ropa? Why not la ropa?

When talking about an unspecified amount (mass/uncountable or nonspecific plural), Spanish often omits the article. Más ropa means “more clothes” in general. You’d use la ropa if it’s specific: No metas más la ropa que está en el piso.

Can I say ropas?

Normally no. Ropa is a collective singular (“clothes”). To count items, use prendas (de ropa) or piezas de ropa: No metas más prendas. The plural ropas is rare and stylistic.

Why does más have an accent? What’s mas without an accent?

Más (with accent) means “more.” Mas (without accent) is an old-fashioned or literary “but,” similar to pero. Here you need más.

What’s the difference between esta and está?

Esta (no accent) = “this” (feminine): esta lavadora.
Está (with accent) = “is” (from estar): La lavadora está llena.
The accent changes both meaning and pronunciation.

Is the semicolon (;) natural in Spanish here? Could I use something else?

Yes, it’s fine to link two related clauses. You could also use:

A period: La lavadora está llena. No metas más ropa.
A comma plus a connector: La lavadora está llena, así que no metas más ropa.

How do I pronounce this naturally in Latin America?

La lavadora está llena: [la la-ba-DO-ra es-TA YE-na] (most of Latin America pronounces ll like English “y”).
no metas más ropa: [no ME-tas MAS RO-pa].
Notes: final “s” may be softened in parts of the Caribbean/Andes; v sounds like b in Spanish.

Are there regional words for “washing machine”?

Yes. Lavadora is standard across Latin America. In the Southern Cone (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay) you’ll also hear lavarropas. You might also hear máquina de lavar in some places.

Could I say it in other natural ways?

La lavadora ya está llena; no metas más ropa. (already)
La lavadora está a tope/repleta; no metas más ropa.
Ya no metas ropa; la lavadora está llena. (“don’t put any more” via ya no)
No cabe más ropa en la lavadora. (there’s no more room)

Can I use otra instead of más?

Be careful:

Más ropa = more clothes (additional quantity).
Otra ropa = other/different clothes.
“Another piece of clothing” would be otra prenda.