Inklingo

How to Say "to lend" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to lend” is “prestar” — use 'prestar' when you are temporarily giving an object to someone, like a pen or a book, and expect it back. This is the most common and general term for lending.

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prestar

pres-TAHRpɾesˈtaɾ

verbA1general
Use 'prestar' when you are temporarily giving an object to someone, like a pen or a book, and expect it back. This is the most common and general term for lending.
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-HARdeˈxaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'dejar' when lending something to someone, often with a slightly more informal tone, implying you are letting them have it for a period. It can also mean 'to leave'.
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...?'.

conferir

kon-fe-reerkonfeˈɾiɾ

verbC1formal
Use 'conferir' when talking about imparting a quality, characteristic, or status to something, rather than lending a physical object. It's often used in more formal or literary contexts.
A chef sprinkling green herbs into a large pot of soup.

Examples

Las especias le confieren un sabor único al plato.

The spices impart a unique flavor to the dish.

Sus anteojos le confieren un aire de intelectual.

His glasses give him an air of an intellectual.

La luz de la tarde confiere una atmósfera mágica al bosque.

The evening light lends a magical atmosphere to the forest.

Abstract Giving

This use of the word is for abstract things. You aren't physically handing someone a flavor or a look; the object or situation naturally provides that quality.

Prestar vs. Dejar for Physical Items

Learners often confuse 'prestar' and 'dejar' because both can mean lending an object. Remember that 'prestar' is the most direct and common translation for lending and borrowing physical items, while 'dejar' can also mean 'to leave' and sometimes carries a slightly more informal tone.

Related Translations

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