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permitir

to allow

verb pehr-mee-TEER Common
People & Society

Origin: From Latin permittere (to let pass, allow).

Also means

to enable

Usage Note

Permitir is a regular -ir verb. It can take an indirect object + infinitive: te permito salir (I allow you to leave), or a que + subjunctive clause: permite que lo hagan (it allows them to do it). The reflexive permitirse means to afford or allow oneself something: no me puedo permitir ese lujo (I cannot afford that luxury).

Examples

"No se permite fumar aquí."

Natural Translation

Smoking is not allowed here.

Literal Translation

Not itself-allows to-smoke here.

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