What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ¿me prestas? literally translates to 'Will you lend me?'
Which one should you use?
While English speakers often say 'Can I borrow…?', Spanish speakers more commonly use the structure 'Will you lend me…?' represented by ¿me prestas…?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase ¿me prestas? is an informal way to say 'Can I borrow…?' For more formal or respectful situations, you can use the third-person singular form ¿me presta? Other formal alternatives include ¿Podría prestarme…?』 (Could you lend me…?) or Disculpe, ¿me permite tomar prestado…?』 (Excuse me, may I borrow…?). In very informal settings, you might use ¿Me dejas…?』 (Can you lend me…?) or Oye, ¿me puedes prestar…?』 (Hey, can you lend me…?).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb prestar is used in the second person (you) to ask the other person to perform the action of lending. To complete the request, you must follow the phrase with the object you wish to borrow, such as in ¿me prestas un lápiz? (Can I borrow a pencil?).
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use prestar to mean 'to borrow' (the act of receiving), but in Spanish, prestar means 'to lend' (the act of giving).
When do people say it?
When someone asks to borrow something, a common way to agree to the request is to say Sí, claro. (Yes, sure.).
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking countries, asking ¿me prestas? when referring to a cigarette is often understood as a request for a free one that will not be returned.
- The pronoun me in the phrase ¿me prestas? is a linguistic hybrid. It descends from the Latin 'mē', the accusative of 'ego', but its function as an indirect object also stems from the Latin 'mihi', the dative of 'ego'.
- While English uses one word for 'borrow', Spanish uses the phrase pedir prestado, which literally means 'to ask for [something] lent'.
Examples in context
- ¿Me prestas tu bolígrafo?Can you lend me your pen?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
