defender
/deh-fehn-DEHR/
defend
Depicting 'defender' as protection from physical attack.
defender(verb)
defend
?protecting from attack
,protect
?guarding physical safety
guard
?watching over something
📝 In Action
El perro defiende la casa de los ladrones.
A2The dog defends the house from thieves.
Los soldados defienden la frontera con valentía.
B1The soldiers defend the border bravely.
💡 Grammar Points
The E > IE Change
In the present tense, the 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' in all forms except for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'. This is common for many Spanish verbs!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Yo defendo la verdad."
Correction: Yo defiendo la verdad. Remember to change the 'e' to 'ie' when the stress falls on that syllable.
⭐ Usage Tips
Defending People
When defending a person, you usually don't need a preposition: 'Defiendo a mi amigo' (I defend my friend). Remember the personal 'a' when the object is a person.
Illustrating 'defender' when it means to advocate or support an idea.
defender(verb)
advocate
?support an idea or cause
,uphold
?maintain a principle
stand by
?supporting a decision
📝 In Action
Ella siempre defiende los derechos de los animales.
B2She always advocates for animal rights.
El abogado defendió la inocencia de su cliente en el juicio.
C1The lawyer defended his client's innocence in the trial.
Debemos defender nuestra postura en la reunión.
B2We must uphold our position in the meeting.
💡 Grammar Points
Defending Ideas
When you use 'defender' to talk about supporting an abstract concept (like 'rights' or 'ideals'), it works just like the physical meaning—you are protecting that concept.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Thesis Defense
In academic Spanish, 'defender una tesis' is the standard way to say 'to defend a thesis or dissertation.'
Visualizing 'defender' in the context of self-protection.
defender(verb)
defend oneself
?self-protection
,stand up for oneself
?asserting rights or views
fend for oneself
?managing alone
📝 In Action
Si alguien te ataca, tienes que defenderte.
B1If someone attacks you, you have to defend yourself.
Aprendió a defenderse de las críticas desde joven.
B2She learned to stand up for herself against criticism from a young age.
💡 Grammar Points
Using Reflexive Verbs
When you use 'defenderse,' the action comes back to the subject. Remember to use the correct reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) before the conjugated verb.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Pronoun
Mistake: "Él defiende en la calle."
Correction: Él se defiende en la calle. If the person is defending *themselves*, you must include the 'se'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Meaning Shift
While 'defender' is usually physical protection, 'defenderse' often means protecting your reputation or position in an argument, too.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: defender
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish sentence correctly uses the stem-changing form of 'defender' in the present tense for 'I'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'defender' always irregular?
Only in the present tenses (present indicative, present subjunctive, and imperative) does it have the 'e' to 'ie' stem change. In the preterite, imperfect, and future, it is completely regular.
What is the difference between 'defender' and 'proteger'?
'Defender' usually implies an active response against a threat or an argument (like fighting back). 'Proteger' is often more general and means 'to keep safe' (like protecting food from the sun).