soportar
“soportar” means “to tolerate” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to tolerate, to put up with
Also: to stand, to endure
📝 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?
to support, to bear
Also: to hold up
📝 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.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: soportar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'soportar' in the sense of 'to tolerate' (Meaning 1)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *supportare*, which means 'to carry, to bring up, or to endure.' This explains why Spanish 'soportar' kept both the physical meaning (to bear weight) and the figurative meaning (to bear difficulty).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.