Inklingo

How to Say "to lend" in Spanish

English → Spanish

prestar

/pres-TAHR//pɾesˈtaɾ/

verbA1
Use 'prestar' when you are specifically asking to borrow or offering to lend a particular item, like a pen or money.
A friendly person handing a colorful umbrella to a friend during a rain shower.

Examples

¿Puedes prestarme tu bolígrafo?

Can you lend me your pen?

Mi hermano me prestó su coche el fin de semana.

My brother lent me his car over the weekend.

Lend vs. Borrow

Spanish uses 'prestar' to mean 'give for a while' (lend). To say 'receive for a while' (borrow), you must say 'pedir prestado' (literally: to ask for lent).

Who gets it?

Use little words like 'me', 'te', or 'le' before the verb to show who is receiving the item being lent.

Using 'prestar' for 'borrow'

Mistake: “Yo presté un libro de la biblioteca.”

Correction: Tomé prestado un libro de la biblioteca.

dejar

/de-HAR//deˈxaɾ/

verbB1
Use 'dejar' when you are letting someone use something you own, often implying a more casual arrangement or a longer period, with the clear understanding it will be returned.
One person extending a bright yellow umbrella to a second person who is getting wet from the rain, symbolizing lending an item for temporary use.

Examples

Te dejo mi libro, pero devuélvemelo la próxima semana.

I'll lend you my book, but return it to me next week.

¿Me dejas tu paraguas? Está lloviendo mucho.

Can you lend me your umbrella? It's raining a lot.

Using 'dejar' to say 'borrow'

Mistake: “*Yo dejo tu libro. (Trying to say 'I borrow your book')”

Correction: Quiero pedir prestado tu libro. OR ¿Me dejas tu libro? 'Dejar' means to lend (to give). To borrow (to take), you use 'pedir prestado'. However, you can ask someone to lend you something by saying '¿Me dejas...?' which is the most common way to ask 'Can I borrow...?'.

Prestar vs. Dejar

Learners often confuse 'prestar' and 'dejar' because both mean 'to lend'. Remember that 'prestar' is the more direct translation for lending a specific item, while 'dejar' can also mean 'to leave' and is used when you are allowing someone to use something of yours more generally.

Related Translations

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