Borrowing, Lending, Giving, and Returning Things in Spanish

In this lesson, you will organize a simple exchange involving an object. You will distinguish who owns the object, who lends it, who borrows it, who receives it, and when it must be returned.

Prestar means to lend

The person who owns or controls the object can prestar it to another person.

— Ana lends the book to Carlos.
— Carlos lends me his charger.
— I lend you my book.

For this lesson, — charger is useful everyday borrowing vocabulary.

Pedir prestado means to borrow

The borrower can use pedir prestado to request temporary use of something.

— I borrow the book from Ana.
— I want to borrow your charger.
— Can I borrow this chair?

Prestado or prestada agrees with the thing borrowed in these examples.

Ask directly to borrow something

Useful everyday questions include:

— Will you lend me your book?
— Will you lend me the charger?
— Can I use your phone?

Dejar can mean letting someone use something

In everyday contexts, dejar can be used for allowing temporary use.

— Can I borrow / use your pen?
— Ana lets me use her bicycle.

For this lesson, — pen and — bicycle are useful object words.

Dar means to give

Dar usually describes giving something to another person. It does not by itself mean that the object must later be returned.

— Ana gives the book to Carlos.
— I give you this cup.

Do not assume a temporary loan when the verb is dar unless the context clearly says so.

Devolver means to return an object

— I return the book to Ana.
— I return the charger tomorrow.
— Carlos returns the bicycle on Friday.

Keep the roles separate

Read:

— Ana lends the book to Carlos.

Ana is the lender. Carlos is the borrower. The book is the object.

Later:

— Carlos returns the book to Ana.

Now Carlos performs the return, and Ana receives her object back.

Use ownership language

Person A: — Is this book yours?

Person B: — No, it belongs to Ana. I have it on loan.

For this lesson, — I have it on loan is a useful fixed phrase with one direct object pronoun.

Agree on the return time

— When are you returning it?
— I am returning it tomorrow.
— I am returning it on Monday.

These examples use one direct object pronoun only. The next lesson teaches how direct and indirect object pronouns combine.

Borrowing exchange

Person A: — Will you lend me your book?

Person B: — Yes, of course.

Person A: — Thank you. I will return it tomorrow.

Borrowing exchange with a refusal

Person A: — Will you lend me the charger?

Person B: — I am sorry, I need it now.

Ask for a specific return time

Person A: — I will lend you my bicycle.

Person B: — Thank you.

Person A: — Can you return it on Saturday?

Person B: — Yes, I will return it on Saturday.

Do not confuse lend and borrow

Compare:

— Ana lends me the book.
— I borrow the book from Ana.

The same temporary transfer is viewed from opposite roles.

Do not confuse lend and give

— I lend you the book.
— I give you the book.

Prestar normally implies temporary use. Dar does not automatically imply a return.

A practical borrowing method

Identify the owner or lender.
Identify the borrower.
Identify the object clearly.
Use prestar from the lender's perspective or pedir prestado from the borrower's perspective.
Use dar only when the meaning is genuinely giving rather than temporary lending.
Use devolver for the return of the object.
Agree on a return time when the loan requires one.
Use explicit names or one pronoun at a time in this lesson.
Do not combine direct and indirect object pronouns yet.

From Lending to Double Object Pronouns

You can now organize a borrowing and return exchange without confusing the lender, borrower, object, or return time. The next lesson teaches Spanish double object pronouns and the change from le or les to se before lo, la, los, or las.

Spanish phrases

¿Me prestas tu libro?

Will you lend me your book?

¿Me prestas el cargador?

Will you lend me the charger?

¿Puedo pedir prestada esta silla?

Can I borrow this chair?

¿Puedo usar tu teléfono?

Can I use your phone?

¿Me dejas tu bolígrafo?

Can I borrow your pen?

Te presto el libro.

I lend you the book.

Te doy el libro.

I give you the book.

Quiero pedir prestado tu cargador.

I want to borrow your charger.

Devuelvo el libro a Ana.

I return the book to Ana.

Devuelvo el cargador mañana.

I'll return the charger tomorrow.

¿Este libro es tuyo?

Is this book yours?

No, es de Ana. Lo tengo prestado.

No, it belongs to Ana. I have it on loan.

¿Cuándo lo devuelves?

When are you returning it?

Lo devuelvo mañana.

I'll return it tomorrow.

Lo siento, lo necesito ahora.

I'm sorry, I need it now.

Te presto mi bicicleta.

I'll lend you my bicycle.

¿Puedes devolverla el sábado?

Can you return it on Saturday?

Sí, la devuelvo el sábado.

Yes, I'll return it on Saturday.

Yo pido prestado el libro a Ana.

I borrow the book from Ana.