Inklingo
Dictionary

pon

ponpon

“pon” means “Put” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

PutA1

Physical placement

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Turn onA2

Appliances or devices

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Write downB1

Listing or taking notes

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Put, PlaceAlso: Lay, Set

A1irregular er
A close-up of a hand placing a bright red wooden block onto a clean wooden table, demonstrating physical placement.
infinitiveponer
gerundponiendo
past Participlepuesto

📝 In Action

¡Pon la mesa ahora mismo! Vamos a cenar.

A1

Set the table right now! We are going to have dinner.

Pon el vaso sobre el posavasos, por favor.

A1

Put the glass on the coaster, please.

Cuando llegues, pon las llaves en el gancho de la entrada.

A2

When you arrive, put the keys on the hook by the entrance.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • coloca (place (command))
  • mete (put inside (command))

Common Collocations

  • Ponlo allí – Put it there
  • Pon las manos – Put your hands

Turn on, ApplyAlso: Set, Broadcast

A2irregular er
A finger pressing a glowing green power button on a simple, rounded white lamp, illustrating the action of activation.
infinitiveponer
gerundponiendo
past Participlepuesto

📝 In Action

¡Pon la televisión, por favor! Quiero ver las noticias.

A2

Turn on the TV, please! I want to watch the news.

¡Pon mucha crema solar! El sol está muy fuerte.

A2

Put on a lot of sunscreen! The sun is very strong.

Pon tu alarma para las siete de la mañana.

B1

Set your alarm for seven in the morning.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • quita (remove (command))
  • apaga (turn off (command))

Common Collocations

  • Pon música – Put on music / Play music
  • Pon la radio – Turn on the radio

Write down, MakeAlso: State

B1irregular er
A hand holding a pencil actively drawing a simple, thick line onto a blank sheet of bright yellow paper.
infinitiveponer
gerundponiendo
past Participlepuesto

📝 In Action

¡Pon más detalles en tu informe para que se entienda mejor!

B1

Put more details in your report so it's understood better!

Pon atención a lo que dice el profesor. ¡Es importante!

B1

Pay attention (Put attention) to what the professor is saying. It's important!

No te preocupes, pon buena cara y sonríe.

B2

Don't worry, put on a good face (look happy) and smile.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • Pon un ejemplo – Give an example
  • Pon tu firma – Put your signature

Idioms & Expressions

  • Pon tu granito de arena – Do your part / Contribute a small bit

Indicative

Present

yopongo
túpones
él/ella/ustedpone
nosotrosponemos
vosotrosponéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesponen

Imperfect

yoponía
túponías
él/ella/ustedponía
nosotrosponíamos
vosotrosponíais
ellos/ellas/ustedesponían

Preterite

yopuse
túpusiste
él/ella/ustedpuso
nosotrospusimos
vosotrospusisteis
ellos/ellas/ustedespusieron

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yoponga
túpongas
él/ella/ustedponga
nosotrospongamos
vosotrospongáis
ellos/ellas/ustedespongan

Imperfect Subjunctive

yopusiera/pusiese
túpusieras/pusieses
él/ella/ustedpusiera/pusiese
nosotrospusiéramos/pusiésemos
vosotrospusierais/pusieseis
ellos/ellas/ustedespusieran/pusiesen
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pon" in Spanish:

applybroadcastlaymakeplaceputsetstate

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pon

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'pon' correctly for physical placement?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
poner(to put, to place) — Verb
puesta(setting, placing, performance) — Noun
posición(position, placement) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes
sondonno
📚 Etymology

'Pon' is the short, irregular command form derived from the verb 'poner'. 'Poner' comes directly from the Latin verb *ponere*, meaning 'to put, to place, or to set down.' The command form became shortened in Old Spanish, making it one of the core irregular verbs.

First recorded: Before 1200 AD (as *ponre*)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: porreFrench: pondre

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'pon' so different from other Spanish commands?

'Pon' is highly irregular because it's a very old, fundamental verb. Its command form ('pon') is part of a small group of eight verbs that simply drop the end of the infinitive (*poner*) to make the short, informal command.

How do I make the command negative (tell someone NOT to put something)?

The negative command is much more regular! You use the present subjunctive form: 'No pongas'. For example: 'No pongas los pies en la mesa' (Don't put your feet on the table).