prender
“prender” means “to turn on” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
to turn on
Also: to switch on
📝 In Action
¿Puedes prender la luz, por favor?
A1Can you turn on the light, please?
Ella siempre prende la televisión antes de cenar.
A2She always turns on the television before having dinner.
No puedo prender mi computadora porque no tiene batería.
B1I can't turn on my computer because it has no battery.
to light
Also: to ignite
📝 In Action
Él prendió una vela para la cena.
B1He lit a candle for dinner.
Es difícil prender el fuego si la madera está mojada.
B1It is difficult to light the fire if the wood is wet.
Cuidado al prender los fuegos artificiales.
B2Be careful when lighting the fireworks.
to arrest
Also: to apprehend
📝 In Action
La policía prendió al sospechoso cerca de la escena.
B2The police arrested the suspect near the scene.
Fue prendido por sus crímenes después de meses de búsqueda.
C1He was apprehended for his crimes after months of searching.
Ordenaron prender a los rebeldes.
C1They ordered the rebels to be seized.
to fasten
Also: to take root
📝 In Action
Ella prendió el broche en su vestido.
C1She pinned the brooch onto her dress.
El esqueje prendió rápidamente en el jardín.
C2The cutting took root quickly in the garden.
Prendió las llaves a su cinturón.
C1He fastened the keys to his belt.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: prender
Question 1 of 3
If you are in Mexico and want to turn on the television, which verb is most natural?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'prehendere', meaning to seize or to grasp. This is why the word can mean both catching a criminal and 'catching' fire.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'prender' used for 'to learn'?
No, that is 'aprender'. They sound similar, but 'prender' is mostly for turning things on, lighting fires, or arresting people.
Can I use 'prender' in Spain?
Yes, but it's less common for lights. In Spain, 'encender' is preferred for lights/electronics, while 'prender' is used more for its 'arrest' or 'fasten' meanings.
Is 'prender' irregular?
No, it is a perfectly regular -er verb. Once you know the pattern for verbs like 'comer' or 'beber', you can conjugate 'prender' easily.