Poder: to be able to, can, may
Pronunciation: poh-DEHR (stress the capital letters)
Poder means “to be able to, can, may” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to be able to, can, may
- How to say it: poh-DEHR
- Present: yo puedo, tú puedes
- Level: Beginner (A1)
What “poder” means and how to use it
Poder means “can” or “to be able to.” It is followed by an infinitive and is also used for polite requests.
How to conjugate “poder”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | puedo | I |
| tú | puedes | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | puede | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | podemos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | pueden | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo pude, él pudo | I / he or she |
| Past participle | podido | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- Puedo ayudarte con eso.I can help you with that.
- ¿Puedes abrir la ventana?Can you open the window?
- No podemos salir hoy.We cannot go out today.
Usage tip
Do not add “to” or “que” after poder: say “puedo hablar,” not “puedo a hablar.” Use “¿Podría...?” for a very polite request.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to be able to, can, may” in Spanish?
“to be able to, can, may” in Spanish is “poder.” It is pronounced poh-DEHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “poder”?
Say poh-DEHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “poder”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “pude” and “él” is “pudo.” The past participle is “podido.”
Practice “poder” for free
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