What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb poder (to be able to/can) in the first person singular, and the infinitive ver (to see).
Which one should you use?
You might use ¿Me dejas ver? in a colloquial way or more formal constructions like ¿me permite ver? to ask if someone will allow you to see something.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
¿puedo ver? can be used in informal contexts. For a more polite and respectful way to ask to see something specific, you can say ¿Puedo ver esto, por favor? If you wish to be very formal, ¿me permite ver? is a more formal and polite way to ask for permission to look at something compared to the standard ¿puedo ver? and ¿Sería tan amable de permitirme ver? is a formal and polite way to ask for permission to see something. In casual, colloquial settings, you can use ¿Me dejas ver?
Did you know?
- The word ver is used in the common idiom ver las estrellas, which literally means 'to see the stars'. However, it is used figuratively to describe experiencing a sudden, intense pain.
- The Spanish verb ver is a distant relative of the English words 'wit' and 'wise'. All of these terms share a common ancestor from Proto-Indo-European that linked the act of seeing to the act of knowing.
- While you might use ¿puedo ver? to look at an object, if you want to 'see' a movie, you can also use the verb asistir, which literally means 'to assist' or 'to attend'.
Examples in context
- ¿Puedo ver el libro?Can I see the book?
- ¿Sería tan amable de permitirme ver ese documento?Would you be so kind as to allow me to see that document?
- ¿puedo ver el menú, por favor?Can I see the menu, please?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ver, CC BY-SA 4.0.
