admitir
/ahd-mee-TEER/
to admit
Admitir can mean 'to allow entry or access,' like when a guard lets someone through a gate.
admitir(verb)
to admit
?to allow entry or access
,to accept
?to approve an application or person
to let in
?casual entry
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'a' with People
When you admit a person or animal, you must use the personal 'a' before them: 'Admitieron a mi hermano en la escuela.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Casual
'Admitir' is often used for official acceptance (like a school or hospital). For simple entry, you might also hear 'dejar entrar' (to let in).
When you admitir (confess) to something, you acknowledge the truth, like this child admitting they spilled the milk.
admitir(verb)
to admit
?to confess or acknowledge the truth
to confess
?formal acknowledgement of guilt
,to concede
?to acknowledge a point in an argument
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'que'
When admitting a full statement (like 'I admit that I was wrong'), you must use the word 'que' (that) to connect the two parts: 'Admito que me equivoqué.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Confession and Allowance
Mistake: "Using 'Admitió a su culpabilidad.'"
Correction: Say 'Admitió su culpabilidad.' The personal 'a' is not used here because 'culpabilidad' (guilt) is a concept, not a person.
Admitir also means 'to allow' or permit something, often shown through a positive signal like a thumbs-up.
admitir(verb)
to allow
?to permit something to happen or exist
to tolerate
?to have capacity for
📝 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.
⭐ Usage Tips
Impersonal Use
This usage often appears with impersonal subjects like 'la regla' (the rule) or 'la situación' (the situation), showing what conditions or limits are in place.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: admitir
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'admitir' in the sense of 'allowing entry'?
📚 More Resources
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).