borrow [ˈbɒrəʊ]
Usage note
There is no one-word translation of the verb "to borrow" in Spanish. Although Spanish speakers commonly use "prestar" and "dejar" when discussing the action of borrowing, both verbs more directly translate to the English "to lend." Note that with "to borrow", the person asking for the loan is the subject. On the other hand, with Spanish "prestar" and "dejar", the lender is the subject. See examples 1b and 1c.
borrow(
ba
-
ro
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).
1. (to use temporarily)
a. pedir prestado
You can always borrow your father's car.Siempre le puedes pedir prestado el coche a tu padre.
b. prestar
Could I borrow your vacuum cleaner for a couple of hours? Mine is broken.¿Me prestas la aspiradora un par de horas? La mía está estropeada.
c. dejar
Regionalism used in Spain
(Spain)
May I borrow your yellow sweater? I promise it's the last time.¿Me dejas tu jersey amarillo? Te prometo que es la última vez.
2. (to take from the library)
a. sacar prestado
I borrowed four books from the library but have only had time to read two.Saqué cuatro libros prestados de la biblioteca pero solo he tenido tiempo de leer dos.
3. (to incorporate into a language)
a. tomar prestado
Spanish borrowed quite a few words from Arabic.El español tomó prestadas unas cuantas palabras del árabe.
4. (to use as one's own)
a. apropiarse de
Of course it wasn't his idea, he rather borrowed it from someone else.Por supuesto, no fue idea suya, sino que se apropió de la de otro.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g. The man sneezed.).
5. (to take out a loan)
a. pedir un préstamo
We are going to borrow in order to buy a house.Vamos a pedir un préstamo para comprar una casa.
borrow
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).
1. (general)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
can I borrow your book?¿me prestas or
I borrowed his bicycle without him knowingle tomé la bicicleta prestada sin que lo supiera
to borrow a book from the librarytomar prestado un libro de la biblioteca
to borrow money from the bankpedir un crédito al banco
to be living on borrowed timetener los días contados
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g. The man sneezed.).
2. (general)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
she's always borrowing from other peoplesiempre está pidiendo cosas prestadas a los demás
Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
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