conferir
“conferir” means “to grant” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to grant, to bestow
Also: to confer
📝 In Action
La universidad decidió conferir el título de doctor honoris causa.
B2The university decided to grant the honorary doctorate degree.
La constitución le confiere poderes especiales al presidente.
C1The constitution grants special powers to the president.
Es un honor conferir este premio a una científica tan brillante.
B2It is an honor to bestow this award on such a brilliant scientist.
to impart, to give
Also: to lend
📝 In Action
Las especias le confieren un sabor único al plato.
C1The spices impart a unique flavor to the dish.
Sus anteojos le confieren un aire de intelectual.
C1His glasses give him an air of an intellectual.
La luz de la tarde confiere una atmósfera mágica al bosque.
C2The evening light lends a magical atmosphere to the forest.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "conferir" in Spanish:
to bestow→to confer→to give→to grant→to impart→to lend→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: conferir
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct 'yo' form in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'conferre', which means 'to bring together' or 'to contribute'. It is made of 'con-' (together) and 'ferre' (to carry/bring).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'conferir' used to mean 'to talk' or 'to discuss' like in English?
Not directly as a verb. While 'conference' (conferencia) means a lecture or meeting, the verb 'conferir' in Spanish almost always means to grant or impart. To say 'discuss/consult', you would use 'consultar' or 'deliberar'.
How do I conjugate the 'we' (nosotros) form?
In the present tense, it is regular: 'conferimos'. The stem-change only happens when the syllable is stressed, which doesn't happen in the 'nosotros' form.
Is it a common word in daily conversation?
No, it's quite formal. You'll use it in writing or in serious speeches, but rarely when chatting with friends at a café.