impide

Impide is the third-person singular present indicative form of the Spanish verb impedir, meaning to prevent, hinder, or obstruct. It indicates that a subject (he, she, or the formal you) stops a course of action or blocks a process. The base infinitive is impedir, and the full verb family includes forms such as impide, impides, impedimos, impedís, and impiden.

In usage, impide is commonly followed by que plus the subjunctive to express preventing another action: for example, "La niebla impide que avancemos" (The fog prevents us from advancing). It can also combine with an infinitive, as in "El ruido impide dormir" (The noise prevents sleeping). Synonyms include dificultar, obstaculizar, and impedir itself when used in different contexts.

Etymology: impide derives from impedir, which traces back to Latin impedire, meaning to hinder or obstruct. The sense remains focused on blocking a desired outcome, whether by physical, situational, or procedural obstacles.

Usage notes: impide is a standard, widely understood form in Spanish. It is not used as a noun or a proper name in typical language use. Outside Spanish, impide may appear in bilingual texts as a direct translation of "prevents," but it is not an English word. The broader verb family impedir is conjugated to match the subject and tense in conversation and writing.