Inklingo
Dictionary

bastar

bahs-TAHRbasˈtaɾ

“bastar” means “to be enough” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to be enoughA2Verb

expressing sufficiency

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Stop it!A1Verb

command to end an action

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to be enoughAlso: to suffice

VerbA2regular ar
A glass filled with water exactly to the top edge without overflowing.
gerundbastando
infinitivebastar
past Participlebastado

📝 In Action

Dos raciones de pizza bastan para los niños.

A2

Two slices of pizza are enough for the kids.

Me basta con tu palabra.

B1

Your word is enough for me.

No basta con querer el cambio; hay que actuar.

B2

It isn't enough to want change; you have to act.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • faltar (to be missing/lacking)
  • escasear (to be scarce)

Common Collocations

  • basta con – it's enough with/just by
  • me basta – it's enough for me
  • con eso basta – that's enough

Idioms & Expressions

  • basta y sobra – to be more than enough

Stop it!, Enough!

VerbA1
A hand held up in a firm stop gesture in front of a playful puppy.

📝 In Action

¡Basta! No quiero oír más excusas.

A1

Enough! I don't want to hear any more excuses.

¡Basta ya de tanto ruido!

A2

Stop all that noise already!

Dijo 'basta' y se fue de la reunión.

B1

He said 'enough' and left the meeting.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • parar (to stop)
  • detenerse (to halt)

Common Collocations

  • ¡Basta ya! – That's enough already!
  • ¡Basta de...! – Enough of...!

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yobaste
túbastes
él/ella/ustedbaste
nosotrosbastemos
vosotrosbastéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesbasten

Imperfect Subjunctive

yobastara
túbastaras
él/ella/ustedbastara
nosotrosbastáramos
vosotrosbastarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesbastaran

Indicative

Present

yobasto
túbastas
él/ella/ustedbasta
nosotrosbastamos
vosotrosbastáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesbastan

Preterite

yobasté
túbastaste
él/ella/ustedbastó
nosotrosbastamos
vosotrosbastasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesbastaron

Imperfect

yobastaba
túbastabas
él/ella/ustedbastaba
nosotrosbastábamos
vosotrosbastabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesbastaban
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "bastar" in Spanish:

enough!to suffice

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: bastar

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'It's enough just to call him'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
bastante(enough / quite a lot) — Adjective
abastar(to supply (archaic)) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes
gastarcantar
📚 Etymology

From the Vulgar Latin 'bastare', which came from a Greek word meaning 'to carry' or 'to support.' It evolved to mean 'to hold up' or 'to be sufficient'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: bastare

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'basta' and 'bastante'?

'Basta' is a verb form (it is enough / stop), while 'bastante' is an adjective or adverb (enough / plenty / quite).

Can I use 'bastar' for people?

Yes, but usually in the sense of 'being sufficient for a task.' For example: 'Él basta para este trabajo' (He is enough/sufficient for this job).

Is 'bastar' irregular?

No, it follows the perfectly regular pattern for all '-ar' verbs in Spanish.