admitir
“admitir” means “to admit” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to admit, to accept
Also: to let in
📝 In Action
La universidad solo admite 100 estudiantes nuevos cada año.
B1The university only admits 100 new students every year.
¿Nos van a admitir en el museo si llegamos tarde?
A2Are they going to let us into the museum if we arrive late?
El club no admite mascotas grandes.
B1The club does not allow large pets.
to admit
Also: to confess, to concede
📝 In Action
Tuve que admitir que mi plan no funcionó.
B1I had to admit that my plan didn't work.
El sospechoso admitió su culpabilidad durante el interrogatorio.
B2The suspect admitted his guilt during the interrogation.
Debo admitir que tienes razón en este punto.
C1I must concede that you are right on this point.
to allow
Also: to tolerate
📝 In Action
La ley no admite excepciones en este caso.
C1The law does not allow exceptions in this case.
El presupuesto no admite más gastos.
C2The budget cannot tolerate any more expenses.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "admitir" in Spanish:
to accept→to admit→to allow→to concede→to confess→to tolerate→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: admitir
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'admitir' in the sense of 'allowing entry'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *admittere*, formed by combining *ad-* (meaning 'to' or 'toward') and *mittere* (meaning 'to send'). The original meaning was literally 'to send toward' or 'to allow to go in.'
First recorded: Medieval Spanish period (around the 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'admitir' a stem-changing verb?
No, 'admitir' is a completely regular -ir verb. Its stem (admit-) never changes, making it easy to conjugate compared to many other Spanish verbs.
When should I use 'admitir' versus 'aceptar'?
They are very close! 'Admitir' often emphasizes the process of *letting in* (physically or formally, like a student into a school) or *confessing* a fact. 'Aceptar' is broader and often means simply *to agree to receive* something (like a gift or an idea).