Encender can mean switching on a light, device or heating.

The idea

In the present, stressed e changes to ie in enciendo and enciende; nosotros encendemos keeps e.

Examples

  • Enciendo la lámpara para leer.I turn on the lamp to read.
  • Ella enciende el ordenador por la mañana.She turns on the computer in the morning.
  • Encendemos la luz cuando oscurece.We turn on the light when it gets dark.
  • ¿Puedes encender la calefacción?Can you turn on the heating?
  • Ellos encienden el horno antes de cocinar.They turn on the oven before cooking.
  • Primero enciende la pantalla y luego abre el programa.First turn on the screen and then open the program.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Spanish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Encender switches something on; apagar switches it off.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the present form for yo: Yo ___ la lámpara para leer. (enciendo / encendo)

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    enciendo

    Enciendo is the present form for yo, with e changed to ie.

  2. Choose the present form for nosotros: Nosotros ___ la luz. (encendemos / enciendemos)

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    encendemos

    Encendemos keeps e in the nosotros present form.

  3. Choose the action that switches the lamp on: La lámpara está apagada; necesito luz y voy a ___. (encenderla / apagarla)

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    encenderla

    Encenderla switches the lamp on; apagarla would switch it off.

Use it today

Say when you turn on a lamp and ask someone to switch on the heating.