Spanish is full of verbs that seem similar but carry subtle differences, and SOPORTAR and AGUANTAR are a classic pair that can confuse learners. Both translate to “to endure” or “to put up with” in English, but they’re not always interchangeable.
In this article, we’ll explore when to use soportar and aguantar, provide examples to clarify their meanings, and include exercises to help learners master them. Let’s dive in and sort out these two tricky verbs!
❓When to Use Soportar and Aguantar
When to Use Soportar
Soportar often implies bearing or tolerating something difficult, with a sense of resilience or support — either physical or emotional. It’s commonly used for enduring tough situations or people over time. Here are its main cases with examples:
1. To endure or tolerate something unpleasant (emotional/mental):
- No soporto a mi jefe, siempre está gritando. (I can’t stand my boss; he’s always yelling)
- Ella no soporta las críticas. (She can’t tolerate criticism)
2. To support or bear a physical weight or burden:
- Esta mesa no soporta tanto peso. (This table can’t support so much weight)
- Las columnas soportan el tejado. (The columns support the roof)
When to Use Aguantar
Aguantar also means to endure, but it often carries a sense of holding out or resisting something tough, usually with more effort or strain. It’s less about long-term tolerance and more about pushing through a challenge. Here are its key uses with examples:
1. To withstand or hold out against discomfort or pain (physical/emotional):
- No aguanto el dolor de cabeza. (I can’t stand this headache)
- Él aguantó el frío sin quejarse. (He withstood the cold without complaining)
2. To put up with something/someone temporarily:
- No aguanto a los vecinos ruidosos. (I can’t put up with the noisy neighbors)
- Aguanta el hambre hasta la cena. (Hold out against hunger until dinner)
🔑Key Difference and Preference:
While both verbs can sometimes overlap (especially with tolerating annoyances), soportar often suggests a deeper, more permanent dislike or structural support, while aguantar feels more immediate and effort-based. For example:
- No aguanto el calor extremo. (I can’t stand the extreme heat) – Focuses on struggling with it right now.
- No soporto el calor extremo. (I can’t tolerate extreme heat) – Implies a general, ongoing intolerance.
In casual speech, aguantar is more common for temporary discomfort, so No aguanto el calor extremo might sound more natural to native speakers in everyday contexts.
However, both can work in some cases with slight nuance:
- No aguanto este ruido. (I can’t stand this noise) – Suggests it’s unbearable in the moment.
- No soporto este ruido. (I can’t tolerate this noise) – Hints at a broader, consistent aversion.
Another example where both fit:
- No aguanto a mi profesor. (I can’t put up with my teacher) – Focuses on the struggle of dealing with him now.
- No soporto a mi profesor. (I can’t stand my teacher) – Suggests a deeper, long-term dislike.
In physical contexts, though, they diverge more clearly:
- Aguantar is about resisting: Aguanté la sed todo el día – (I held out against thirst all day).
- Soportar is about bearing: El suelo soporta el peso – (The floor bears the weight).
💡 When in doubt, aguantar often feels more conversational, while soportar can sound slightly formal or emphatic.
✔️ Exercise #1: SOPORTAR o AGUANTAR
Choose between soportar and aguantar to complete these sentences based on their meanings.
✔️ Exercise #2: SOPORTAR o AGUANTAR
Keep practicing! Select soportar or aguantar for these sentences to test your understanding.