enciende
/en-SYEN-de/
turns on
Enciende can mean 'turns on,' often referring to electrical devices.
enciende(Verb)
turns on
?He/She/It turns on; You (formal) turn on
,turn on
?Command (informal tú)
switches on
?Appliance or light
📝 In Action
Ella siempre enciende la radio cuando cocina.
A1She always turns on the radio when she cooks.
Disculpe, ¿usted enciende el aire acondicionado?
A2Excuse me, are you turning on the air conditioning?
¡Enciende la pantalla para ver la película!
A1Turn on the screen to watch the movie!
💡 Grammar Points
Dual Role of Enciende
This single form, 'enciende', can mean two things: 'he/she/it turns on' (describing an action) OR 'turn on!' (a direct command to 'tú').
Stem Change (e > ie)
The vowel 'e' in the middle of the verb 'encender' changes to 'ie' in most forms, except for the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Usando 'él encende' en lugar de 'él enciende'."
Correction: Always remember the 'e' becomes 'ie' when the stress falls on that syllable: 'enciende'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Physical Action
Use 'encender' primarily for things that produce light, heat, or start a motor/device. Avoid using it for starting a computer program (use 'abrir' or 'iniciar').
When talking about illumination, enciende translates to 'lights.'
enciende(Verb)
lights
?He/She/It lights; You (formal) light
,light
?Command (informal tú)
ignites
?Starting a flame
📝 In Action
El viento es fuerte, pero él enciende la fogata.
A2The wind is strong, but he lights the bonfire.
Ella enciende una vela para ambientar la cena.
A2She lights a candle to set the mood for dinner.
⭐ Usage Tips
Fire vs. Appliance
Although 'encender' is used for both a light bulb and a bonfire, you can think of it as 'making the energy or flame start'.
Enciende can also mean 'ignites,' describing the start of a fire.
enciende(Verb)
ignites
?He/She/It ignites/stirs up
,rouses
?He/She/It rouses/provokes
stirs up
?Conflict or emotion
📝 In Action
El artículo enciende una gran controversia política.
B1The article ignites a great political controversy.
Su presencia enciende la esperanza en el equipo.
B2His presence rouses hope in the team.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use
When used figuratively, 'encender' implies a sudden, strong emotional start, similar to how a fire starts quickly.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: enciende
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'enciende' as a direct command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'enciende' the same as 'prende'?
They are synonyms for 'to turn on' or 'to light'. 'Encender' is generally considered standard across most Spanish-speaking regions, but 'prender' is very common, especially in Latin America, for lights and appliances.
How do I know if 'enciende' means 'he turns on' or 'turn on'?
Context is key! If the sentence includes a subject like 'él' (he) or 'ella' (she), it's a description ('He turns on'). If it starts the sentence or is preceded by an exclamation mark, it’s usually a command ('¡Enciende la luz!').