prestar
/pres-TAHR/
to lend
Prestar can mean 'to lend', like giving an umbrella to a friend for a short time.
prestar(verb)
to lend
?giving something temporarily
to loan
?often used for money or formal items
📝 In Action
¿Puedes prestarme tu bolígrafo?
A1Can you lend me your pen?
Mi hermano me prestó su coche el fin de semana.
A2My brother lent me his car over the weekend.
💡 Grammar Points
Lend vs. Borrow
Spanish uses 'prestar' to mean 'give for a while' (lend). To say 'receive for a while' (borrow), you must say 'pedir prestado' (literally: to ask for lent).
Who gets it?
Use little words like 'me', 'te', or 'le' before the verb to show who is receiving the item being lent.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'prestar' for 'borrow'
Mistake: "Yo presté un libro de la biblioteca."
Correction: Tomé prestado un libro de la biblioteca.
⭐ Usage Tips
Keep it casual
In many parts of Spain, people use the word 'dejar' (to leave) instead of 'prestar' when lending small things like a pen or a lighter.
Prestar is also used in the phrase 'prestar atención', which means to pay attention or focus your mind.
prestar(verb)
to pay (attention)
?focusing your mind
to give (help/support)
?offering assistance
📝 In Action
Es importante prestar atención en clase.
B1It is important to pay attention in class.
Ella siempre presta ayuda a sus vecinos.
B1She always gives help to her neighbors.
💡 Grammar Points
Don't use 'pagar' for attention
English says 'pay' attention, but Spanish says 'lend' attention (prestar atención). Never use the word for money (pagar) here!
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
present
imperfect
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: prestar
Question 1 of 2
If you want a friend to give you their book for the day, which do you say?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'prestar' and 'dejar'?
They are often used as synonyms for 'to lend' in casual conversation. However, 'prestar' is more precise, while 'dejar' usually means 'to leave' or 'to let'.
How do I say 'I borrowed a pen'?
You would say 'Pedí prestado un bolígrafo' or 'Tomé prestado un bolígrafo'.