sirven
“sirven” means “they work (function)” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
they work (function), they are useful
Also: they are suitable, they serve (a purpose)
📝 In Action
Estos zapatos viejos ya no me sirven.
A2These old shoes don't work for me anymore (they are no longer useful).
¿Para qué sirven estas llaves?
B1What are these keys for (What purpose do they serve)?
Las baterías no sirven. Necesitas cambiarlas.
A2The batteries don't work. You need to change them.
they serve
Also: they attend to
📝 In Action
Los camareros sirven la cena a las ocho.
A1The waiters serve dinner at eight o'clock.
En este restaurante sirven platos vegetarianos.
A1In this restaurant, they serve vegetarian dishes.
Dicen que sirven al cliente con mucha amabilidad.
B1They say they serve the client with great kindness.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "sirven" in Spanish:
they serve→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sirven
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best describes the meaning of 'Las tijeras no sirven'?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin verb *servīre*, meaning 'to be a slave, to serve, or to render service.' The core meaning has always been about offering help or fulfilling a duty.
First recorded: Old Spanish (c. 10th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'servir' change to 'sirven' but not 'servimos'?
This is a common pattern in Spanish irregular verbs. The vowel change (e to i) only happens when the stress falls on the stem of the verb (like in 'sirven'). In the 'we' (nosotros) form, the stress falls on the ending, so the original 'e' returns: 'ser-VI-mos'.
Can 'sirven' be used for clothes?
Yes, absolutely! If a piece of clothing is too small or too big, you would say 'No me sirven' (They don't fit me / They aren't useful to me).