How to Say "lets" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “lets” is “deja” — use 'deja' when giving or withholding permission for someone to do something, especially in everyday situations..
deja
/DEH-hah//ˈde.xa/
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/
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.
Deja vs. Permite
Related Translations
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