encender
turn on · light
Hacer que algo comience a funcionar o producir luz, calor o fuego.
Definition & meaning
Encender means to turn on, light, or ignite something:
- To switch on a device or light: “to turn on the television.”
- To start a fire or flame: “to light a candle.”
- Figuratively, to arouse an emotion or reaction: “to spark anger.”
The reflexive form encenderse can mean “to light up,” “catch fire,” or, figuratively, “become angry.”
Grammar & Word origin
Encender is a verb. Its stem changes from e to ie in stressed forms: enciendo, enciendes, enciende. The past participle is encendido.
It comes from Latin incendere, meaning “to set fire to” or “kindle.”
Synonyms & antonyms
- prender — “to light” or “turn on”; often interchangeable with encender, especially in Latin America.
- activar — “to activate”; emphasizes making a system or function operational rather than producing light or fire.
- apagar — “to turn off” or “extinguish”; the usual opposite.
- extinguir — “to extinguish”; used especially for fires, not ordinary devices.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Puedes encender la luz, por favor?verb
Can you turn on the light, please?
¿Sabes encender una fogata?verb
Do you know how to light a campfire?
Ella encendió las velas para la cena.verb
She lit the candles for dinner.
Mañana encenderemos el calefactor porque hará frío.verb
Tomorrow we will turn on the heater because it will be cold.
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