soportar
/soh-por-TAR/
to tolerate
Soportar, meaning 'to tolerate,' is shown by enduring a minor annoyance with patience.
soportar(verb)
to tolerate
?enduring an annoyance or difficulty
,to put up with
?dealing with unpleasant behavior or conditions
to stand
?e.g., I can't stand the heat
,to endure
?a difficult situation or pain
📝 In Action
No soporto el calor de esta ciudad en verano.
A2I can't stand the heat of this city in the summer.
Ella soporta las críticas con mucha paciencia.
B1She endures the criticism with a lot of patience.
¿Puedes soportar a tu jefe por ocho horas al día?
B1Can you put up with your boss for eight hours a day?
💡 Grammar Points
Direct Object
The thing or person you are tolerating always receives the action directly, without needing a preposition like 'a' unless referring to a specific person.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'soportar' with 'apoyar'
Mistake: "Using 'soportar' when you mean 'to support/encourage' someone emotionally."
Correction: Use 'apoyar' or 'dar apoyo' for emotional encouragement. 'Soportar' means enduring something annoying. Example: Use 'Apoyo a mi amigo' (I support my friend), not 'Soporto a mi amigo'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Negative Use is Common
This meaning is most frequently used in the negative form: 'No lo soporto' (I can't stand it/him).
Soportar, meaning 'to support,' is demonstrated by the pillar bearing the weight of the heavy block.
soportar(verb)
to support
?physically holding up weight
,to bear
?carrying a load or weight
to hold up
?preventing something from falling
📝 In Action
Esta viga de metal soporta el peso de todo el segundo piso.
B1This metal beam supports the weight of the entire second floor.
Los cimientos no pueden soportar más carga.
B2The foundations cannot bear any more load.
La mesa soporta hasta 100 kilos.
B1The table holds up to 100 kilos.
💡 Grammar Points
Transitive Verb
In this meaning, 'soportar' always needs a direct object (the weight or structure being held up). The sentence structure is: [Subject] soporta [Direct Object].
⭐ Usage Tips
Use 'Aguantar' for Quick Holds
While 'soportar' is for long-term structural support, 'aguantar' is often used for physically holding something temporarily: 'Aguanta la puerta, por favor' (Hold the door, please).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: soportar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'soportar' in the sense of 'to tolerate' (Meaning 1)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'soportar' a false friend with the English word 'support'?
Yes, partially. While 'soportar' can mean 'to physically support' (like a column holding up a roof), it almost never means 'to emotionally support' or 'to financially support.' For those meanings, use 'apoyar' or 'mantener,' respectively.
What is the difference between 'soportar' and 'aguantar'?
They are often interchangeable for 'to tolerate' or 'to endure,' especially in spoken Spanish. However, 'aguantar' is generally more informal and can also mean 'to hold on' or 'to wait.' 'Soportar' is slightly more formal and always clearly relates to enduring something difficult.