presta
/press-tah/
lends
When used as a verb, presta means 'lends,' illustrated here by the act of one character lending a book to another.
presta(Verb)
lends
?He/She/It lends or Formal You lend (Present Tense)
,loan
?Command: Lend! (Informal You)
loans out
?Giving an item temporarily
📝 In Action
Mi hermana me presta su coche los fines de semana.
A2My sister lends me her car on weekends.
Presta tu chaqueta a María, tiene frío.
A2Lend your jacket to María, she is cold. (Informal command)
El banco nunca presta dinero sin aval.
B1The bank never loans money without collateral.
💡 Grammar Points
Dual Role of 'Presta'
'Presta' is used when talking about what a third person does ('He/She lends') AND when you are giving a direct order to a friend ('Lend it!').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Lend vs. Borrow
Mistake: "Using 'prestar' when you mean 'to borrow.'"
Correction: To borrow is 'pedir prestado.' Remember: 'Prestar' is what the generous person does.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the 'A'
Always remember to use the little word 'a' to indicate who receives the loan: 'Presta el coche A Juan' (He lends the car TO Juan).
When used in the phrase presta atención, presta means 'pays' (attention). This image shows someone focusing intently.
presta(Verb)
pays
?He/She/It pays (attention)
,gives
?He/She/It gives (help, service)
offers
?Offering assistance
📝 In Action
El estudiante nunca presta atención en clase.
B1The student never pays attention in class.
Presta más atención a lo que te digo.
B1Pay more attention to what I tell you. (Informal command)
La Cruz Roja presta servicios esenciales a la comunidad.
B2The Red Cross provides essential services to the community.
💡 Grammar Points
Fixed Phrase
When talking about attention, 'prestar' is almost always used with the noun 'atención' (attention) to mean 'to pay attention.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'prestar' and 'pagar'
Mistake: "Saying 'pagar atención' (to pay attention) like in English."
Correction: In Spanish, we 'lend' attention: 'prestar atención.' You only 'pay' ('pagar') money.
In Spanish slang (Spain), presta can mean 'is good' or 'is cool,' like this exciting skateboard trick.
presta(Verb)
is good
?It is enjoyable/cool (Spain slang)
,is suitable
?It is appropriate or lends itself to (formal reflexive use)
is conducive
?The situation allows it
📝 In Action
Esta playa presta para hacer surf.
C1This beach is good/suitable for surfing.
El ambiente de la fiesta presta mucho.
C1The atmosphere of the party is really cool/fun. (Spain slang)
La situación no se presta a bromas.
B2The situation does not lend itself to jokes (It's not suitable for jokes).
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Se' Requirement
For this meaning, the verb must be reflexive: 'prestarse' (to lend oneself). You must include 'se' or 'me/te/nos' etc., before the verb.
⭐ Usage Tips
Slang Warning
Using 'presta' to mean 'cool' or 'fun' is highly regional, primarily heard in Spanish slang from Spain and parts of Central America. Use with caution outside those areas.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: presta
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'presta' as an informal command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'presta' the same as 'borrow'?
No. 'Prestar' (which yields 'presta') means 'to lend' (to give something temporarily). To 'borrow' is 'pedir prestado' (to ask for something lent).
How do I know if 'presta' is a command or a statement?
If 'presta' is at the beginning of a sentence and directed at someone, it’s usually a command ('Presta tu lápiz'). If it follows a subject like 'él,' 'ella,' or 'el banco,' it's a statement about what that person or thing is doing ('Ella presta ayuda').