prender

to light

to turn on

prender(prehn-dehr)

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

transitive verb

1. (to ignite)

a. to light

Puedes prender el carbón con un fósforo.You can light the charcoal with a match.

2. (to activate)

Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.

(Latin America)

a. to turn on

¿No quieres prender la luz para poder leer mejor?Don't you want to turn on the light so you can read better?

b. to switch on

Hace mucho calor. - Prende el aire acondicionado.It's really hot. - Switch on the air conditioning.

3. (to apprehend)

a. to catch

La policía prendió al sospechoso mientras huía de la escena del crimen.The police caught the suspect running away from the crime scene.

b. to arrest

La policía lo prendió por el robo del banco.The police arrested him for the bank robbery.

c. to capture

La FBI prendió a los delincuentes mientras intentaban abordar un buque.The FBI captured the criminals while they were trying to board a ship.

4. (to put on)

a. to attach

Diego prendió un ramillete al vestido de su novia.Diego attached a corsage to his girlfriend's dress.

b. to pin

Mike prendió una rosa a su solapa antes de la boda de su hermano.Mike pinned a rose to his lapel before his brother's wedding.

c. to fasten

Anita prendió una flor a su vestido y se fue a la fiesta.Anita fastened a flower to her dress and left for the party.

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

intransitive verb

5. (botany)

a. to take root

Las semillas prendieron fácilmente en la tierra fértil de la granja.The seeds took root easily in the farm's fertile soil.

6. (to become popular)

a. to catch on

Nuevos avances en la tecnología prenden rápidamente.New advances in technology catch on quickly.

7. (to receive)

a. to take

Él recibió la vacuna contra la gripa, pero no prendió y se enfermo de igual manera.He got the flu vaccine, but it didn't take and he got sick anyway.

prenderse

A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g. Te ves cansado.).

pronominal verb

8. (to burn)

a. to catch fire

El sofá estaba demasiado cerca de la chimenea y se prendió.The sofa was too close to the fireplace and caught fire.

prender

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

transitive verb

1. (arrestar)

a. to arrest, to apprehend

2. (sujetar)

a. to fasten

3. (luz, interruptor)

Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.

(Latin America)

a. to light

prender fuego a algoto set fire to something, to set something on fire

4. (agarrar)

a. to grip

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

intransitive verb

5. (arder)

a. to catch (fire)

6. (planta)

a. to take root

7. (opinión)

a. to spread

una idea que ha prendido entre el públicoan idea that has caught on among the public

A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g. Te ves cansado.).

pronominal verb

8. (arder)

a. to catch fire

prender

transitive verb

1 [+persona] (capturar) to catch; capture; (detener) to arrest

2 (Cos) (sujetar) to fasten; (con alfiler) to pin; attach;en to;

prender el pelo con horquillas to pin one's hair with grips

3 (atar) to tie; do up

4 especialmente (Latinoamérica) [+fuego, horno, vela, cigarrillo] to light; [+cerilla] to strike; [+luz, TV] to switch on; [+cuarto] to light up

intransitive verb

1 [+fuego] to catch

sus ideas prendieron fácilmente en la juventud his ideas soon caught on with the young

2 (engancharse) to catch; stick

el ancla prendió en el fondo the anchor buried itself in the seabed

3 [+planta] to take; take root

4 [+vacuna] to take

pronominal verb

prenderse

1 (encenderse) to catch fire

2 [+mujer] to dress up

3 (Caribe) (emborracharse) to get drunk