Apoyar vs Soportar in Spanish (Plus Aguantar and Mantener)

Apoyar vs soportar is confusing at times when they both seem to mean “to support.” For example:

Mis padres me apoyan.
My parents support me.

Las vigas soportan la construcción temporal. 
The beams support the temporary construction.

Why do these two Spanish verbs translate into the same English word? Are they interchangeable? (Spoiler alert: they aren’t!) 

How do you know when to use one or the other?

The good news is that the difference isn’t difficult to grasp, and I promise you’ll get it before you finish reading this article. Even better, I’ll throw in two more words that add to the apoyar vs soportar confusion (aguantar and mantener), and you will discover when exactly to use them in your Spanish conversations.

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Apoyar vs Soportar – The Basics

While both apoyar and soportar can be translated to mean “to support,” the verb soportar means specifically to support in a physical way, and apoyar in a more metaphorical one—to back someone; to support them emotionally.

Despite this clear difference, other shades of meaning exist for each of these words that, by knowing them, will help you understand them better in specific contexts.

3 Meanings of the Spanish Verb ‘Apoyar’

Let’s take a look at apoyar and how to translate it into English in all its possible meanings. We’ll also cover how to conjugate it in the most common tenses.

Apoyar is a transitive verb that means “to support” but not in a literal meaning.

1. To Uphold 

You can translate apoyar into “to support” if you mean “to back something or someone.”

Todos tenemos que apoyar estas medidas si queremos que las cosas cambien.
We all have to support these measures if we want things to change.

Nadie apoyó al candidato independiente.
No one supported the independent candidate.

2. To Lay Against 

Apoyar gets very close to the literal meaning of support when it means to lean or to put to rest. However, the movement this verb indicates is horizontal or downward, while the English one “to support” is upward.

Apóyate contra la pared y respira hondo.
Lean against the wall and take deep breaths.

No apoyes los codos sobre la mesa mientras comes. 
Do not rest your elbows on the table while eating.

3. To Ground a Theory

Apoyar also means to base something on something, usually a theory or a hypothesis; to confirm and support in metaphorical meaning. 

You can substitute apoyar in this meaning with its synonym respaldar.

Doctor, ¿en qué apoya su hipótesis?
Doctor, what supports your hypothesis?

Ningún dato apoya esta teoría.
There is no data to support this theory.

Conjugation of Apoyar

Let’s see how the verb apoyar conjugates in present, past, and future tenses. It’s a regular -ar verb that won’t give you headaches.

Present Tense Conjugation Chart: Apoyar

Apoyar is regular in the present tense. 

Apóyame y vota por mí.
Support me and vote for me.

Mis padres me apoyan en todo.
My parents support me in everything.

Preterite Tense Conjugation Chart: Apoyar

The verb apoyar is also regular in all forms of the Spanish preterite tense.

No me apoyaste cuando te necesitaba. 
You didn’t support me when I needed you.

Los estudiantes apoyaron su teoría en una serie de experimentos. 
The students supported their theory with a series of experiments.

Future Tense Conjugation Chart: Apoyar  

You’ll be happy to hear that apoyar is also regular in all forms of the Spanish future simple tense. 

¿Crees que apoyarán las medidas?
Do you think they will support the measures?

2 Meanings of the Spanish Verb ‘Soportar’

Let’s take a look now at soportar and how to translate it into English. As we did above, we’ll cover how to conjugate it in the most common tenses.

Soportar is a transitive verb that you can translate into “to support,” but it also has other meanings.

1. To Tolerate 

Soportar means to stand or bear something or someone, or to endure. 

Este material no soporta temperaturas mayores a 30 grados. 
This material cannot withstand temperatures higher than 30 degrees. 

No puedo soportar tus mentiras. 
I can’t stand your lies.

In this meaning, it’s a synonym to aguantar, but it’s less colloquial (more formal). 

¡Ya no te aguanto!
I can’t stand you anymore!

You can say it also using the verb soportar.

¡Ya no te soporto!
I can’t stand you anymore!

2. To Hold up 

Soportar  translates into “to support” when it means to physically “hold up.” 

Estas vigas viejas ya no pueden soportar el piso superior. 
These old beams can no longer support the upper floor.

In this meaning, you can also replace the word soportar with aguantar, and also with mantener and sostener.

Estas vigas viejas ya no pueden aguantar el piso superior. 
Estas vigas viejas ya no pueden mantener el piso superior. 
Estas vigas viejas ya no pueden sostener el piso superior. 

Conjugation of Soportar

Let’s see how the verb soportar conjugates in present, past, and future tenses. It’s also a regular, easy -ar verb.

Present Tense Conjugation Chart: Soportar

Soportar is regular in the present tense. 

No soporto estar aquí.
I can’t stand being here.

Ella tiene que soportar mucho por parte de su jefa.
She has to put up with a lot from her boss.

Preterite Tense Conjugation Chart: Soportar

The verb soportar is also regular in all forms of the Spanish preterite tense.

Ya soporté demasiado, me voy.
I’ve had enough, I’m leaving.

Soportó todos sus gritos con calma y después expuso su razón.
He endured all their screams calmly and then made his case.

Future Tense Conjugation Chart: Soportar  

You’ll be happy to hear that soportar is also regular in all forms of the Spanish future simple tense. 

¿Crees que esta construcción soportará el huracán?
Do you think this construction will withstand the hurricane?

Apoyar vs. Soportar  – Multiple-Choice Quiz

Ready to check if you remember it all about apoyar vs soportar? There’s one correct option for each question.

1. Me gustaría __________.
   1. apoyarte
   2. soportarte
2. __________ en mí.
   1. Apóyate 
   2. Sopórtate

3. __________ la ventana contra la pared.
   1. Apoya 
   2. Soporta
4. Sinceramente, no la __________, dice puras tonterías.
   1. apoyo
   2. soporto
5. Esta casa debería __________ hasta un huracán.
   1. apoyar
   2. soportar
6. ¿__________ un poco de frío? Tengo que abrir la ventana.
   1. Apoyarás
   2. Soportarás
7. Estos datos no __________ tu teoría.
   1. apoyan
   2. soportan
8. Muchas personas __________ estas medidas.
   1. apoyan
   2. soportan
9. No van a aguantar mucho más, están al límite. Which word could substitute aguantar?
   1. apoyar
   2. soportar
10. Tienes que mantener la cabeza al bebe con tu mano. Which word could substitute mantener?
    1. apoyar
    2. soportar

See the answer key below.

Keep Practicing Apoyar vs Soportar

I’m sure you’re motivated right now to keep learning, and apoyar vs soportar no longer are troublesome to you.

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Apoyar vs Soportar Quiz Answers

1. apoyarte
2. Apóyate 
3. Apoya
4. soporto
5. soportar
6. Soportarás
7. apoyan
8. apoyan
9. soportar
10. soportar

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Olga Put

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I'm a Spanish philologist, teacher, and freelance writer with a Master's degree in Humanities from Madrid. I speak Polish, Spanish, and English fluently, and want to get better in Portuguese and German. A lover of literature, and Mexican spicy cuisine, I've lived in Poland, Spain, and Mexico and I'm currently living and teaching in Madeira, Portugal.

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