ponle
/POHN-leh/
put [it] on/to
Placing a hat on a bear illustrates the command to 'put it on'.
ponle(verb)
put [it] on/to
?giving a command to a friend to place something
add [it] to
?instructions for food or tasks
📝 In Action
Ponle más sal a la sopa.
A1Add more salt to the soup.
Ponle la chaqueta al niño.
A1Put the jacket on the boy.
💡 Grammar Points
Sticking Words Together
'Ponle' is actually two words combined: 'pon' (the command for 'put') and 'le' (meaning 'to him', 'to her', or 'to it'). In Spanish, when you tell a friend to do something, you attach these little direction words to the end of the action.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Separate Them
Mistake: "Le pon sal."
Correction: Ponle sal. When giving a 'do it' command, the 'le' must stick to the end of the word, not come before it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking to Friends
Use 'ponle' when you are talking to someone you know well, like a friend or a child. If you were being formal (talking to a boss or stranger), you would say 'póngale' instead.
Putting a collar on a pet represents the moment you give it a name.
📝 In Action
Ponle un nombre a tu nuevo gato.
A2Give your new cat a name.
No sé qué título usar, ponle cualquiera.
B1I don't know what title to use, give it any one.
💡 Grammar Points
Who receives the name?
The 'le' in 'ponle' refers to the thing or person getting the name (the cat, the book, etc.).
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ponle
Question 1 of 1
If you want to tell a friend to add sugar to their coffee, which would you say?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'ponle' mean 'put him'?
It can mean 'put [something] on him' or 'add [something] to him'. The 'le' represents the person or thing receiving the item.