encenden

Encenden is not a standard form in modern Spanish. The correct third-person plural present indicative of the verb encender is encienden, which means "they light" or "they turn on." Encender means to ignite a fire, to light a source of illumination, or to power on an electrical device; the sense depends on context. The form encenden may appear as a common misspelling or typographical error in texts that omit the required "ci" in the stem.

Etymology: Encender derives from Latin incendere "to set on fire," from in- "on" + candere "to burn" (related to words like candle). The semantic development in Spanish covers both ignition of a flame and activation of machinery.

Conjugation and forms: In present tense, encender is irregular with a stem change from e to ie in most forms: yo enciendo, tú enciendes, él enciende, nosotros encendemos, vosotros encendéis, ellos encienden. The root encend- is used with typical endings. The preterite is encendí, encendiste, encendió, encendimos, encendisteis, encendieron. Imperfect is encendía, encendías, encendía, encendíamos, encendíais, encendían.

Usage: Encender is used with literal ignition (encender una vela), with lights (encender las luces), or with devices (encender la computadora). It also appears in phrases like "se encendió la televisión" when a device turns on by itself or due to action.

See also: Encendido, apagado, encender (lemma).