may
vs
march

QUICK ANSWER

"May" is a form of "may", an auxiliary verb which is often translated as "poder". "March" is a form of "march", a noun which is often translated as "la marcha". Learn more about the difference between "may" and "march" below.

may(

mey

)

An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).

auxiliary verb

1. (when asking permission)

a. poder

May I help you, madam?¿Puedo ayudarla, señora?

May I leave the table? - No, you may not.¿Puedo levantarme de la mesa? - No, no puedes.

This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.

no direct translation

I’d like to make a suggestion, if I may.Quisiera hacer una sugerencia, si me permite.

May I see that letter?¿Me enseña la carta?

2. (when indicating possibility)

This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.

no direct translation

She may have decided to go to the movies by herself.A lo mejor decidió ir al cine sola.

We may be able to find a replacement for you so you can take off.Puede que podamos encontrar a alguien que te sustituya para que puedas tener el día libre.

3. (when wishing or expressing purpose)

This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.

no direct translation

May you both be very happy!¡Que sean muy felices!

We want to preserve this landscape so that it may be enjoyed by future generations.Queremos conservar este paisaje para que las generaciones venideras lo disfruten.

4. (when conceding or justifying something)

This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.

no direct translation

I may not be rich, but I’m happy.No seré rica, pero soy feliz.

You may not like the taste of the cough syrup, but you have to take it.Puede que no te guste el sabor del jarabe para la tos, pero hay que tomarlo.

march(

march

)

A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).

noun

1. (parade)

a. la marcha

(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(F)

There is a march against poverty next Saturday.El próximo sábado hay una marcha contra la pobreza.

2. (travel distance)

a. la marcha

(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(F)

It is a two-day march from here to the next city.Es una marcha de dos días de aquí a la siguiente ciudad.

3. (progress)

a. la marcha

(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(F)

The march of research has been halted for years.La marcha de la investigación lleva años parada.

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).

transitive verb

4. (to take)

a. llevar

The policeman marched the suspect to the cell.El policía llevó al sospechoso al calabozo.

An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).

intransitive verb

5. (to travel)

a. marchar

We marched along the way.Marchamos por el camino.