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caber

Caber means 'to fit inside'. It's irregular, little-used by learners, and has several idioms with a surprising reach.

caber (fit)

To fit inside something — physical or abstract space.

  • No cabe más gente.

    There's no more room for people.

    Irregular: quepo, cabes, cabe. Present only.

  • ¿Cabemos todos en el coche?

    Can we all fit in the car?

    A natural question. Caber en = to fit in.

  • Esta mesa no cabe por la puerta.

    This table won't fit through the door.

    Por for movement through.

caber (idioms)

Abstract use: possible, appropriate, or conceivable.

  • No cabe duda.

    There's no doubt.

    A frequent expression. No cabe duda de que + indicative.

  • No me cabe en la cabeza.

    I can't get my head around it.

    Used for things you can't accept or understand.

  • Cabe destacar que...

    It's worth pointing out that...

    Formal writing. Cabe + infinitive = it's possible or fitting to.

Tricky bit

'Quepo' (I fit) is one of the strangest first-person forms in Spanish, and subjunctive is 'quepa'. Nobody expects learners to master it, but 'no cabe duda' is worth memorising.