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prolongar

pro-lon-GAR/pɾolonˈɡaɾ/

“prolongar” means “to extend” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to extend

Also: to prolong, to drag out
VerbB1spelling change ar
A candle burning slowly with a long trail of melted wax, representing the extension of time.
gerundprolongando
past Participleprolongado
infinitiveprolongar

📝 In Action

Queremos prolongar nuestra estancia en el hotel dos días más.

B1

We want to extend our stay at the hotel for two more days.

El árbitro decidió prolongar el partido cinco minutos.

A2

The referee decided to extend the game by five minutes.

No hay necesidad de prolongar esta discusión.

B2

There is no need to prolong this argument.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • prolongar la vida – to extend life
  • prolongar el contrato – to extend the contract
  • prolongar la agonía – to prolong the agony

to extend

Also: to lengthen
VerbB2spelling change ar
A long wooden bridge stretching far across a calm blue river.
gerundprolongando
past Participleprolongado
infinitiveprolongar

📝 In Action

Van a prolongar la línea del metro hasta el aeropuerto.

B1

They are going to extend the subway line to the airport.

El arquitecto quiere prolongar el balcón.

B2

The architect wants to extend the balcony.

Si prolongas esta línea, verás que cruza el círculo.

B2

If you extend this line, you will see it crosses the circle.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • prolongar la calle – to extend the street

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesprolongaran
yoprolongara
túprolongaras
vosotrosprolongarais
nosotrosprolongáramos
él/ella/ustedprolongara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesprolonguen
yoprolongue
túprolongues
vosotrosprolonguéis
nosotrosprolonguemos
él/ella/ustedprolongue

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesprolongaron
yoprolongué
túprolongaste
vosotrosprolongasteis
nosotrosprolongamos
él/ella/ustedprolongó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesprolongaban
yoprolongaba
túprolongabas
vosotrosprolongabais
nosotrosprolongábamos
él/ella/ustedprolongaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesprolongan
yoprolongo
túprolongas
vosotrosprolongáis
nosotrosprolongamos
él/ella/ustedprolonga
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: prolongar

Question 1 of 3

Which is the correct 'yo' form for the past tense (Preterite)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
prolongación(extension/prolongation) — Noun
prolongado(lengthy/extended) — Adjective
prolongable(extendable) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'prolongare', where 'pro-' means 'forward' and 'longus' means 'long'. Essentially, it means to push the length forward.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: prolongFrench: prolonger

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between prolongar and alargar?

They are very similar. 'Prolongar' sounds a bit more formal and is the preferred choice for time (extending a deadline). 'Alargar' is more common for physical objects (lengthening a pair of pants).

Is prolongar a regular verb?

Mostly! It follows regular -ar patterns, but it has a small spelling change (adding a 'u' after 'g') whenever the ending starts with 'e', like in the past 'yo' form or the 'wish' form (subjunctive).

How do you say 'to extend a stay'?

The most natural way is 'prolongar la estancia'.