poder
Lemma Details
Translation: to be able to; can; may; to have the power to; to be capable of
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Poder comes from Latin 'potere', a variant of 'posse' meaning 'to be able'. This Latin root also gave English words like 'potential', 'potent', and 'possible'. The connection between poder and 'potential' highlights the core meaning of capability or possibility inherent in both words.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'potential' - poder is about having the potential to do something.
- The 'pod' in poder sounds like 'potent' - something potent has power.
- Imagine a superhero saying 'I can!' (¡Yo puedo!) - emphasizing ability and power.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Poder is one of the most essential Spanish verbs, used not only to express ability but also permission and possibility. It's one of the first irregular verbs Spanish learners encounter and is crucial for everyday communication.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'poder' means 'to be able to' or 'can', 'poner' means 'to put' or 'to place'. They look somewhat similar and both are irregular verbs.
Notes: Both verbs are highly irregular in their conjugations, but follow different patterns.
Mnemonic: Poder has to do with power and ability; poner is about positioning things.
Explanation: 'Poder' means 'to be able to', while 'podar' means 'to prune' or 'to trim' (plants or trees).
Notes: Podar is a regular -ar verb, while poder is highly irregular.
Mnemonic: Podar has an 'a' like 'agriculture' - it's about working with plants.