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consentir

kon-sen-TEER/kon.senˈtiɾ/

“consentir” means “to pamper” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to pamper, to spoil

Also: to indulge
VerbA2irregular (e to ie stem change) ir
A child sitting on a sofa being wrapped in a soft blanket by a parent while holding a plate of cookies.
gerundconsintiendo
past Participleconsentido
infinitiveconsentir

📝 In Action

A los abuelos les encanta consentir a sus nietos con dulces.

A2

Grandparents love to pamper their grandchildren with sweets.

No deberías consentir tanto al perro; se va a portar mal.

B1

You shouldn't spoil the dog so much; he's going to misbehave.

Hoy voy a consentirme con un día de spa.

B1

Today I am going to indulge myself with a spa day.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • mimar (to pamper/cuddle)
  • malcriar (to spoil/raise badly)

Antonyms

  • disciplinar (to discipline)
  • castigar (to punish)

Common Collocations

  • consentir a los niños – to spoil the children
  • consentirse un poco – to treat oneself a bit

to allow, to consent

Also: to tolerate
VerbB1irregular ir
General
A parent smiling and nodding while opening a gate for a child on a bicycle.
gerundconsintiendo
past Participleconsentido
infinitiveconsentir

📝 In Action

No puedo consentir que llegues tarde todos los días.

B1

I cannot allow you to arrive late every day.

Ella consintió en participar en el proyecto.

B2

She agreed/consented to participate in the project.

El juez no consintió la evidencia.

C1

The judge did not allow the evidence.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • consentir en algo – to agree to something
  • consentimiento informado – informed consent

Idioms & Expressions

  • quien calla otorga – silence gives consent

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesconsintieran
yoconsintiera
túconsintieras
vosotrosconsintierais
nosotrosconsintiéramos
él/ella/ustedconsintiera

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesconsientan
yoconsienta
túconsientas
vosotrosconsintáis
nosotrosconsintamos
él/ella/ustedconsienta

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesconsintieron
yoconsentí
túconsentiste
vosotrosconsentisteis
nosotrosconsentimos
él/ella/ustedconsintió

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesconsentían
yoconsentía
túconsentías
vosotrosconsentíais
nosotrosconsentíamos
él/ella/ustedconsentía

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesconsienten
yoconsiento
túconsientes
vosotrosconsentís
nosotrosconsentimos
él/ella/ustedconsiente
View All Tenses & Moods →

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: consentir

Question 1 of 3

If a grandmother gives her grandson extra dessert every night, she is...

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
consentimiento(consent/agreement) — Noun
consentido(spoiled/favorite) — Adjective
consentidora(someone who spoils others) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'consentire', which combines 'con' (together) and 'sentire' (to feel). Originally, it meant 'to feel or think together' with someone else.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: consentFrench: consentirItalian: consentire

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'consentido' a bad thing to call a child?

It depends! If you call a child 'el consentido de la casa,' it often means 'the favorite' or 'the one everyone loves to pamper.' However, it can also mean 'spoiled' if said with a negative tone.

What is the difference between 'consentir' and 'permitir'?

They are very similar. 'Permitir' is more neutral and direct (to permit). 'Consentir' can feel more emotional (to pamper) or more formal/authoritative (to give consent).

How do I conjugate the 'we' form?

The 'we' (nosotros) form is regular: 'consentimos'. It does NOT have the 'ie' change that the other present tense forms have.