encender
/enθenˈdeɾ/
To kindle (a fire) in Spanish is encender.
encender is used to mean starting or lighting a fire. It is also the standard verb used for turning on electrical devices like lights or appliances.
Meaning: to start (a fire) (verb)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, some people might refer to a Kindle as un Kindle or el Kindle. In Spain, the term e-reader is commonly used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person singular preterite (past tense) form of encender is encendí. The gerund (present participle) of encender is encendiendo.
How do you pronounce it?
/enθenˈdeɾ/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word encender is a distant relative of the English word 'incense'. Both come from the Latin word incendere, meaning to set on fire.
- In Spanish, encender is used for turning on a light, but to 'wake up' or 'turn on' a computer is often expressed with arrancar, meaning to start an engine.
- While encender means to light a fire, the word encendido can also be used to describe someone who is intensely passionate or emotionally fired up.
Examples in context
- Encendió la fogata para calentarse.He kindled the campfire to get warm.
- Voy a encender la chimenea.I am going to kindle the fireplace.
- ¿Puedes encender la fogata, por favor?Can you kindle the campfire, please?
- Es difícil encender el fuego con la lluvia.It is difficult to kindle the fire with the rain.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are camping in the woods at night.
- DanielHace mucho frío aquí.It is very cold here.
- LucíaDéjame encender la fogata.Let me kindle the campfire.
- DanielGracias, Lucía, eres muy amable.Thanks, Lucía, you are very kind.
- LucíaDe nada, Daniel.You're welcome, Daniel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kindle” translations and entries encender, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries encender, CC BY-SA 4.0.
