Poner: to put, to place
Pronunciation: poh-NEHR (stress the capital letters)
Poner means “to put, to place” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to put, to place
- How to say it: poh-NEHR
- Present: yo pongo, tú pones
- Level: Beginner (A1)
What “poner” means and how to use it
Poner means “to put” or “to place.” It also appears in common phrases such as poner la mesa (set the table) and ponerse (to put on or to become).
How to conjugate “poner”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | pongo | I |
| tú | pones | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | pone | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | ponemos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | ponen | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo puse, él puso | I / he or she |
| Past participle | puesto | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- Pongo las llaves en la mesa.I put the keys on the table.
- ¿Dónde pongo mi chaqueta?Where do I put my jacket?
- Voy a poner la mesa.I am going to set the table.
Usage tip
To say you put on clothes, use the reflexive form ponerse: me pongo el abrigo (I put on my coat).
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to put, to place” in Spanish?
“to put, to place” in Spanish is “poner.” It is pronounced poh-NEHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “poner”?
Say poh-NEHR. 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 “poner”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “puse” and “él” is “puso.” The past participle is “puesto.”
Practice “poner” for free
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