Using dejar to mean borrow/lend (Spain v Latin America)

Graeme R.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Using dejar to mean borrow/lend (Spain v Latin America)

I'm quite confused regarding 'borrow' and 'lend' in Spanish.

I wonder if it's because I've been learning Spanish from a Latin American source and have learned various ways to say 'to borrow' and 'to lend' using such things as 'prestar', 'pedir prestado' and 'tomar prestado'. Grammatically I understand how these phrases work, but they only seem to imply borrow/lend, and I've never been entirely comfortable using any of them!

I.O.P + dejar as used in Spain is quite new to me... and it actually makes sense straight away!

So, I'm interested to know if 'prestar' is used at all in Spain, and if so, how?  

BTW, as there seems to be no exact equivalent to borrow and lend between English and Spanish many people get confused by it. A separate lesson on the subject would be a great addition to the Kwiziq library imo ;)

Saludos 

Asked 4 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hola Graeme,

your suggestion for a new lesson on "prestar", "pedir prestado" and "tomar prestado" is already noted. 

Yes, we do use "prestar" in Spain, although I would say it is slightly more common to use "dejar", but still a common verb:

¿Me prestas tu coche?

Non literal translation: May I borrow your car?

Literal translation: Do you lend me your car?

If you wanted to use "pedir prestado/tomar prestado" instead, you'd say:

¿Puedo pedirte prestado tu coche? or ¿Puedo tomar prestado tu coche?

So here, the question would be using the modal poder and now the person who is asking becomes the subject. Also, with "pedir" there is normally an I.O.P but not normally with "tomar". 

As said, it's noted for a new lesson.

Gracias y saludos

Inma

Graeme R.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks Inma 

--'¿Puedo pedirte prestado tu coche?

-- 'Also, with "pedir" there is normally an I.O.P but not normally with "tomar". '

Yes, this makes sense because I guess the meaning is something like 'Can I ask you...?'

I look forward to this lesson.

Graeme R. asked:

Using dejar to mean borrow/lend (Spain v Latin America)

I'm quite confused regarding 'borrow' and 'lend' in Spanish.

I wonder if it's because I've been learning Spanish from a Latin American source and have learned various ways to say 'to borrow' and 'to lend' using such things as 'prestar', 'pedir prestado' and 'tomar prestado'. Grammatically I understand how these phrases work, but they only seem to imply borrow/lend, and I've never been entirely comfortable using any of them!

I.O.P + dejar as used in Spain is quite new to me... and it actually makes sense straight away!

So, I'm interested to know if 'prestar' is used at all in Spain, and if so, how?  

BTW, as there seems to be no exact equivalent to borrow and lend between English and Spanish many people get confused by it. A separate lesson on the subject would be a great addition to the Kwiziq library imo ;)

Saludos 

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