prestar dinero
/pɾestaɾ dineɾo/from spelling rules
To lend money in Spanish, use prestar dinero.
Prestar dinero is a common and general way to say 'lend money' in Spanish.
Which one should you use?
The phrase prestar dinero means to lend money, whereas pedir dinero prestado means to borrow money.
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular past tense of 'prestar' is prestó.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾestaɾ dineɾo/
Did you know?
- The word dinero is a linguistic relative of the word 'dinar', which is still used as the currency in several countries like Kuwait and Algeria.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the act of lending money to friends or family is often framed as hacer un favor (doing a favor) rather than a financial transaction.
- The verb prestar descends from the Latin praestāre, which literally means 'to stand before' or 'to excel'.
Examples in context
- El banco está dispuesto a prestarme dinero para comprar una casaThe bank is willing to lend me money to buy a house
- La institución financiera facilita préstamos a pequeñas empresasThe financial institution provides loans to small businesses
- Amigo, ¿me puedes prestar dinero para salir esta noche?Friend, can you lend me some money to go out tonight?
- Le puedo prestar dinero si lo necesitaI can lend you money if you need it
- ¿Puedes prestarme dinero para el taxi?Can you lend me money for the taxi?
- No puedo prestar dinero ahora.I cannot lend money right now.
- Ella no quiere prestar dinero a desconocidos.She does not want to lend money to strangers.
Example conversation
Javier and María are talking about a mutual friend.
- JavierNecesito prestar dinero a Luis.I need to lend money to Luis.
- María¿Está seguro de que te lo pagará?Are you sure he will pay you back?
- JavierSí, ¿tú crees que debo prestar dinero?Yes, do you think I should lend money?
- MaríaYo que tú, no lo haría.If I were you, I wouldn't do it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dinero, prestar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
