Inklingo

How to Say "allows" in Spanish

English → Spanish

deja

/DEH-hah//ˈde.xa/

verbA2informal
Use 'deja' when the subject is 'yo' (I), 'tú' (you, informal), or 'él/ella/usted' (he/she/it/formal you) and you are expressing permission or lack thereof in a common, everyday context.
An adult holding open a small gate to allow a delighted child to run into a sunny, flower-filled garden.

Examples

Mi jefe no me deja salir temprano.

My boss doesn't let me leave early.

La lluvia no deja que los niños jueguen afuera.

The rain doesn't let the children play outside.

Esta película siempre me deja pensando.

This movie always leaves me thinking.

How to Say 'Let Someone Do Something'

To talk about letting someone do an action, you'll often see this pattern: deja + que + a person + a verb in a special form. For example, 'Ella deja que su hijo coma postre' (She lets her son eat dessert).

A Simpler Pattern

When the person being 'let' is the object, you can use a simpler structure: deja + the basic form of the second verb. For instance, 'Él me deja usar su coche' (He lets me use his car).

permite

pehr-MEE-teh/peɾˈmite/

verbA2
Use 'permite' when the subject is 'él/ella/usted' (he/she/it/formal you) and you are referring to something or someone having the ability or authorization to do something, often in a more formal or technical context.
A friendly guard in uniform stands beside a wide-open wooden gate, gesturing with an open hand for a small child to walk through, symbolizing permission being granted.

Examples

La tarjeta de crédito le permite pagar después.

The credit card allows him to pay later.

Mi horario me permite ir al gimnasio todos los días.

My schedule permits me to go to the gym every day.

¿El reglamento permite mascotas pequeñas en el edificio?

Does the regulation permit small pets in the building?

Using the Verb After 'Permitir'

When you say who or what is allowed to do something, the verb after 'permite' usually stays in the simple, unconjugated form (infinitive): 'La regla permite comer fuera' (The rule allows eating outside).

Formal vs. Informal

'Permitir' is slightly more formal than 'dejar' (to let/to leave). Use 'permite' when discussing official rules or when writing formally.

Forgetting the 'to'

Mistake: “Me permite ir.”

Correction: This is often translated as 'He allows me to go,' but English requires 'to.' Spanish does not need an extra preposition here.

Choosing Between 'Deja' and 'Permite'

The most common mistake is using 'deja' when the subject is a third-person singular noun or pronoun (like 'the card' or 'he') and the context is more formal or technical. Remember that 'permite' is the correct form for these subjects in such situations.

Related Translations

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