prender

to turn on, to light

p ɾ e n ˈd e ɾ
prend grasp or seize + er Second-conjugation marker
verb Rare #31,725
to turn on, to light Commonly used for turning on lights or lighting a fire/cigarette; in many regions, "encender" is more common for this meaning.
SP: ¿Puedes prender la luz, por favor?
EN: Can you turn on the light, please?
Conjugation of prender
Indicative past
SingularPlural
Third prendió —
Indicative present
SingularPlural
First prendo —
Third prende —
Subjunctive present
SingularPlural
First prendo —
Third prende —
Imperative
SingularPlural
Second prende —
prender

Podría prender la atmósfera.

It could set the atmosphere on fire.

— Oppenheimer (2023)

Hermana, ¿me puedes prender la luz?

Sister, can you turn on the light for me?

Veo violencia a salir a la calle, veo violencia a prender la televisión.

I see violence in going out on the street, I see violence in turning on the television.

— Relatos salvajes (2014)

Si te da miedo, siempre puedes prender esta luz.

If you're scared, you can always turn on this light.

Tom se quedó sin fósforos así que no pudo prender el fuego.

Tom ran out of matches, so he couldn't light the fire.

A ella le gusta prender incienso mientras practica yoga.

She likes to light incense while practicing yoga.

No tengo ganas de hacer nada y no me voy a levantar a prender el ventilador.

I don’t feel like doing anything, and I’m not getting up to turn on the fan.

Voy a prender mi encendedor e ir hacia ti.

I'm going to light my lighter and come to you.

Ah, se empezaron a prender las luces de la calle.

Ah, the streetlights started to turn on.