Spanish word

poder

Pronunciation

IPA/poˈðeɾ/

Meaning

  • verbcan

Example

No puedo venir mañana.

I can't come tomorrow.

Illustration for poder (can)

More examples

No puedo con tanto trabajo.

I can't cope with so much work.

Core concept

Person standing at the pool edge poised to dive.

Common phrases

  • no poder + infinitivo

    not be able to + infinitive

  • poder con + sustantivo

    cope with + noun

  • ¿puede + infinitivo?

    can + infinitive?

Similar words

saber: Know how to do something because of learned skill or necessary information.
conseguir: Manage to obtain a desired thing or result through effort or persistence.
dejar: Let someone do something by not preventing it or by offering informal consent.
permitir: Officially allow an action using authority, rules, or formal permission.

Definition in Spanish

Indica si una persona tiene capacidad, posibilidad o permiso para hacer algo; suele acompañar a un infinitivo.

Word origin

From Latin posse (root pot-) via medieval Romance forms, Spanish poder means to be able and later develops related noun senses of power and authority.

Usage tips

  • The basic way to ask permission is '¿Puedo...?' while '¿Podría...?' (conditional) sounds more polite.

Other meanings

  • strengthnoun
  • powernoun

Related words

  • poderosopowerfuladjective
  • poderíopowernoun

Word lists with this word