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alquilar

/al-kee-LAHR/

to rent

A person handing a set of keys to another person in front of a small apartment building.

Alquilar can mean to rent, such as when you pay to use a home or property.

alquilar(verb)

A1regular ar

to rent

?

paying to use something temporarily

Also:

to hire

?

British English for renting a car or equipment

,

to lease

?

formal or long-term rental

📝 In Action

Queremos alquilar un coche para ir a la playa.

A1

We want to rent a car to go to the beach.

Ella alquila un apartamento pequeño en el centro.

A1

She rents a small apartment downtown.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • rentar (to rent (common in Latin America))
  • arrendar (to lease/rent out (more formal))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • alquilar un piso – to rent a flat/apartment
  • coche de alquiler – rental car
  • en alquiler – for rent

💡 Grammar Points

A perfectly regular verb

Alquilar follows the standard pattern for -ar verbs, making it very predictable and easy to learn.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing the direction

Mistake: "Using a different word for 'rent out'."

Correction: In Spanish, 'alquilar' means both to pay to use something AND to let someone use your property for money. The context tells you which is which.

⭐ Usage Tips

Which preposition to use?

Use 'a' when you are renting something TO someone (alquilo mi casa a Juan) and 'de' when renting FROM someone (alquilo la casa de Juan).

A person standing next to a 'For Rent' sign shaped like a house, handing a key to a new tenant.

Alquilar also means to rent out, where you allow someone else to use your property for payment.

alquilar(verb)

A2regular ar

to rent out

?

allowing someone else to use your property for payment

Also:

to let

?

UK term for renting out property

📝 In Action

Mis padres alquilan una habitación a un estudiante.

A2

My parents are renting out a room to a student.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • subarrendar (to sublet)

Common Collocations

  • se alquila – for rent (sign seen on buildings)

💡 Grammar Points

The 'Se Alquila' sign

You will often see 'Se alquila' on balconies or windows. This is a common way to say 'For Rent' or 'This is being rented out'.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesalquilaran
yoalquilara
túalquilaras
vosotrosalquilarais
nosotrosalquiláramos
él/ella/ustedalquilara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesalquilen
yoalquile
túalquiles
vosotrosalquiléis
nosotrosalquilemos
él/ella/ustedalquile

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesalquilaron
yoalquilé
túalquilaste
vosotrosalquilasteis
nosotrosalquilamos
él/ella/ustedalquiló

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesalquilaban
yoalquilaba
túalquilabas
vosotrosalquilabais
nosotrosalquilábamos
él/ella/ustedalquilaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesalquilan
yoalquilo
túalquilas
vosotrosalquiláis
nosotrosalquilamos
él/ella/ustedalquila
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: alquilar

Question 1 of 2

How do you say 'I want to rent a bike'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

alquiler(the rent (the payment or the concept)) - noun
alquilado(rented) - adjective
inquilino(tenant) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'alquilar' and 'rentar'?

They mean the same thing. 'Alquilar' is the most common word in Spain, while 'rentar' is very common in Mexico and parts of Latin America.

Can I use 'alquilar' for people?

No, 'alquilar' is only for things like houses, cars, or equipment. For hiring employees, use 'contratar'.