Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Afford in Spanish
Permitirse · verb · pehr-mee-TEER-seh
There is no single direct verb for 'afford' in Spanish. The most common construction is 'poder permitirse' (to be able to allow oneself), often shortened to 'permitirse.' Other expressions include 'tener dinero para' (to have money for) and 'darse el lujo de' (to give oneself the luxury of).
For 'permitirse,' pronounced pehr-mee-TEER-seh. In the common construction 'no me puedo permitir,' the full phrase is: noh meh PWEH-doh pehr-mee-TEER.
No me puedo permitir un coche nuevo en este momento.
I can't afford a new car right now.
Afford in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for afford, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| permitirse | afford | pehr-mee-TEER-seh | Default, widely understood |
| darse el lujo de | afford | to afford the luxury of | |
| tener para | afford | informal, having enough for |
How Native Speakers Use Permitirse
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Financial limitation
Con este salario, no nos podemos permitir vacaciones este año.
With this salary, we can't afford a vacation this year.
Expressing financial constraints.
Luxury item
Ahora que tiene mejor trabajo, puede darse el lujo de comer fuera.
Now that she has a better job, she can afford to eat out.
Being able to afford something previously unattainable.
Time constraint
No me puedo permitir perder más tiempo en esto.
I can't afford to waste more time on this.
Using afford for non-monetary resources like time.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Permitirse
Looking for a single-word translation
Incorrect: No puedo affordar un apartamento.
Correct: No me puedo permitir un apartamento.
There is no verb 'affordar' in Spanish; the concept requires a phrase construction like 'poder permitirse' or 'tener dinero para.'
Omitting reflexive pronoun
Incorrect: No puedo permitir eso.
Correct: No me puedo permitir eso.
Without the reflexive 'me,' 'no puedo permitir eso' means 'I can't allow that' (permission), not 'I can't afford that' (financial ability).
Lock in Afford Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Permitirse used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using permitirse in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear No me puedo permitir un coche nuevo en este momento. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Afford in Spanish
- Why doesn't Spanish have a single word for 'afford'?
- Spanish expresses the concept through phrases because the language structures financial ability differently — using 'permitirse' (to permit oneself) frames affordability as self-permission rather than a standalone concept.
- Can I use 'costear' for afford?
- The verb 'costear' means to finance or cover the cost of something, as in 'no puedo costear mis estudios' (I can't afford/finance my studies), and works well for major expenses like education or projects.
- How do I say 'affordable' in Spanish?
- The adjective 'asequible' means affordable or within reach financially, while 'económico' (economical) or 'accesible' (price-wise accessible) are common alternatives depending on the context.