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prestar means to lend — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: November 7, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

prestar

verb • /[pres-TAR]/

to lend

Example:

¿Puedes prestarme un bolígrafo?

Can you lend me a pen?

🧠 What does prestar mean?

The verb 'prestar' means 'to lend' or 'to loan'. It refers to the action of giving something to someone for a temporary period, with the expectation that it will be returned. It is also commonly used in the important expression 'prestar atención', which means 'to pay attention'.

📚 Extra examples

  • Mi hermana me prestó su coche para el fin de semana.
    My sister lent me her car for the weekend.
  • El banco se negó a prestarle el dinero que necesitaba.
    The bank refused to lend him the money he needed.
  • Es fundamental prestar atención en clase para entender la lección.
    It is essential to pay attention in class to understand the lesson.
  • Este material no se presta bien para la construcción.
    This material does not lend itself well to construction.

💡 Did You Know?

A common point of confusion for English speakers is the difference between lending and borrowing. In Spanish, 'prestar' means 'to lend'. To express 'to borrow', one must use the phrase 'pedir prestado' (literally, 'to ask for lent'). For example, '¿Me prestas un lápiz?' (Will you lend me a pencil?) vs. 'Necesito pedir prestado un lápiz' (I need to borrow a pencil).

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "prestar"

Synonyms: dejar, facilitar, proporcionar, conceder
Opposites: pedir prestado, tomar prestado, devolver

🔍 See more essential spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to lend' in Spanish?
The most common and direct way to say 'to lend' in Spanish is 'prestar'.
How do you pronounce 'prestar' in Spanish?
The word 'prestar' is pronounced press-TAHR. The stress is placed on the final syllable.
How do you use 'prestar' in a sentence?
The verb 'prestar' typically requires an indirect object to indicate who receives the item. For example, in 'Yo le presto un libro a María', 'le' and 'a María' represent the indirect object.
What is the English translation of 'prestar'?
The primary English translation of 'prestar' is 'to lend'.
Does 'prestar' change for gender or number?
As a verb, 'prestar' is conjugated according to the subject and tense, but it does not change for the gender or number of the object being lent. For example, 'Él presta su coche' (He lends his car) and 'Él presta sus llaves' (He lends his keys).
Is 'prestar' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'prestar' is a very common verb used frequently in daily conversations about lending objects, money, or services.
Does 'prestar' have slang or double meanings?
A common secondary meaning is the reflexive form 'prestarse a', which means 'to lend oneself to' or 'to be suitable for'. For instance, 'La situación se presta a malentendidos' means 'The situation lends itself to misunderstandings'.
Is 'prestar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The primary meaning of 'prestar' ('to lend') is consistent and widely understood across all Spanish-speaking regions. There are no significant regional variations in its common usage.
How do you conjugate 'prestar' in Spanish?
'Prestar' is a regular -ar verb. Its present tense conjugations are: yo presto, tú prestas, él/ella/usted presta, nosotros prestamos, vosotros prestáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes prestan.

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