Prender

Prender is a Spanish verb with several related meanings centered on causing a change of state, such as lighting, activating, catching, or fastening. Its senses vary by region and context, but they share a common idea of making something start, grab attention, or be held in place.

In lighting and activation, prender means to ignite or light something, such as a candle or a fire (prender una vela; la mecha prendió). It is also used for turning on devices, especially in colloquial speech (prender la luz; prendes la televisión, though encender is also common for some electronics). A related sense is that a fuse or flame takes hold and starts burning.

In arrest and capture, prender is widely used to denote seizing or catching someone, particularly by authorities (la policía prendió al sospechoso). It can also mean to catch or grab someone’s attention or interest (prender la atención de alguien; una noticia que prendió entre la gente).

In fastening and attachment, prender means to pin, fasten, or attach something to a surface or garment (prender un broche; prender una insignia). A reflexive or pronominal form, prenderse, appears with senses such as clinging to or getting involved in something, or, in some dialects, becoming absorbed or hooked by an idea or activity.

Etymology and morphology: prender comes from a Latin root related to seizing or grasping, with cognates across Romance languages. It is a regular -er verb in many tenses, though its conjugation features typical endings and occasional regional preference for certain forms (for example, prenden vs. prende in the present tense).

As a noun, prenda can refer to a garment or a pledge, collateral, or guarantee, showing how the verb’s meanings extend into related concepts of possession and security.

Examples of usage vary by country, but the core ideas—lighting, activating, seizing, and fastening—remain common across Spanish varieties.