permitir
verbCEFR B1
What does “permitir” mean in English?
to allow, to permit
to allow, to permit (permitir que + subjunctive — different-subject volition trigger)
Example sentences
El reglamento de la escuela no permite que los alumnos usen el móvil durante las clases.
The school rules do not allow students to use their phones during lessons.
Este abono de transporte me permite viajar en metro, bus y tren sin pagar extra.
This travel pass allows me to travel by metro, bus and train without paying extra.
Los padres decidieron no permitirles que volvieran a casa después de las once.
The parents decided not to allow them to come home after eleven.
How to use it
Permitir means 'to allow' or 'to permit'. Like mandar, it triggers subjunctive in a que-clause when the subjects differ: 'La empresa no permite que los trabajadores fumen dentro del edificio'. When the subjects are the same or there is no explicit second subject, use permitir + infinitive: 'Este pase no me permite acceder al segundo piso'. Permitir is typically transitive and takes an indirect object for the person being permitted: 'No les permito que lleguen tarde'.
Common mistake
The pattern 'permitir que + subjunctive' is obligatory when subjects differ. A very common error is: *'La empresa no permite los empleados usar el móvil' — Spanish requires the full que-clause with an indirect object: 'La empresa no les permite a los empleados que usen el móvil'. Also: permitir + infinitive (same subject) vs permitir que + subjunctive (different subjects) is the core distinction.