prohibir
verbCEFR B1
What does “prohibir” mean in English?
to prohibit, to ban
to prohibit, to ban (prohibir que + subjunctive — different-subject volition trigger)
Example sentences
Las normas del edificio prohíben que los inquilinos tengan animales de más de diez kilos en los apartamentos.
The building rules prohibit tenants from keeping animals over ten kilos in the apartments.
El médico le ha prohibido que haga ejercicio intenso durante al menos seis semanas.
The doctor has forbidden him from doing intense exercise for at least six weeks.
Está completamente prohibido fumar en todos los espacios comunes del edificio.
Smoking is completely prohibited in all common areas of the building.
How to use it
Prohibir means 'to prohibit' or 'to ban'. It triggers subjunctive in a que-clause with different subjects: 'La ley prohíbe que los menores compren alcohol'. Note that prohibir has a spelling change in the present: prohíbo, prohíbes, prohíbe (accent on the i in stressed syllables). Like permitir, it takes an indirect object for the person being prohibited: 'Te prohíbo que me hables así'. Prohibición (the noun) and prohibido (the past participle used as an adjective: 'Prohibido fumar') are common related forms.
Common mistake
Remember the written accent on prohibir in stressed forms: prohíbo, prohíbes, prohíbe, prohíben. Without it, the word looks like a different pronunciation. Also: 'prohibido + infinitive' is used for impersonal public notices (Prohibido fumar), but when addressing a specific person it becomes 'te prohíbo que + subjunctive'.