caber

Meaning

1. (transitive) to fit, enter (to be able to be contained (by something; regardless of whether space or volume remains))
2. (transitive) to traverse, pass through or across (a way, path, door, hole, opening, mouth, orifice, etc.)
3. (transitive) to be held or contained (to be held inside (something) or passed through (regardless of whether space or volume remains))
4. (intransitive, transitive) to have, hold, should be (in certain phrases)
5. (figuratively, transitive) to be acceptable, accepted, permitted, permissible, allowable, etc.
6. (archaic) to take
7. (archaic) to understand
8. to be possible

Concepts

fit

tolerate

allow

come in

command

comprise

create

enter

form

found

go

go in

govern

grasp

include

let

order

permit

prove

reach

reign

rule

take hold of

take the liberty

admit of

be possible

gather in

see no cabe más

accept

🉑

sit still

admit

bear with

Synonyms

contener

alcanzar

entrar

comprender

crear

cuidar

cumplir

disponer

dominar

formar

fundar

gobernar

igualar

incluir

intentar

inundar

inventar

ir

mandar

modelar

ordenar

penetrar

permitir

probar

proveer

quedar

reinar

suficiente

adentrarse

ingresar

administrar

coger

ajustar

bastar

Hyphenated as

ca‧ber

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kaˈbeɾ/

Etymology

Inherited from Old Spanish: caber

Inherited from Latin: capio

Cognate with English: have

Cognate with Spanish: cazar

Cognate with Portuguese: caibo

In summary

Inherited from Old Spanish caber, from Latin capere (“take, hold, contain”), from Proto-Italic *kapiō, from Proto-Indo-European *kh₂pyéti, from the root *keh₂p- (“to seize, grab”). Compare English have, capture, catch and chase. See also Spanish cazar, cachar.
The 1st person singular of the present reflects an original */ˈkai̯po/, through metathesis from Latin capiō (compare Portuguese caibo). Similarly the preterite continues */ˈkau̯pi/, metathesis of a Vulgar Latin perfect stem *capuī (compare Portuguese coube).