To lend
This is the most common way to ask 'Can you lend me...?' It's direct, friendly, and used for everyday items.
Used in Spain as a synonym for 'prestar' in informal contexts, like '¿Me dejas tu lápiz?' (Can you lend/leave me your pencil?). It's less common with this meaning in Latin America.
I'll lend you my umbrella.
Can you lend me ten dollars?
My friend is going to lend me his car.
I don't like to lend money.
The verb 'prestar' is universally understood and is the standard term for 'to lend' across all of Latin America.
While 'prestar' is also standard, it's very common to use the verb 'dejar' (literally 'to leave' or 'to let') informally. For example, '¿Me dejas el cargador?' means 'Can you lend me the charger?'
'Prestar' is the correct verb. The conjugation changes for 'tú/vos': instead of '¿tú me prestas?', Argentinians say '¿vos me prestás?' with the accent on the last syllable.
Using 'prestar' to mean 'to borrow'. — In Spanish, 'prestar' only means 'to lend' (to give). To say 'to borrow' (to take), you must use the phrase 'pedir prestado'. For example, 'I borrow a book' is 'Pido prestado un libro', NOT 'Presto un libro'.
Confusing 'prestar' (to lend) with 'alquilar' or 'rentar' (to rent). — 'Prestar' is for lending something temporarily, usually for free between friends. 'Alquilar' or 'rentar' means you are paying money to use something, like a car or an apartment.
Forgetting the indirect object pronoun (me, te, le). — When you lend something *to someone*, you need a pronoun. Don't say '¿Prestas tu lápiz a mí?'. The correct, natural way is '¿Me prestas tu lápiz?'.
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