arriesgado
“arriesgado” means “risky” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
risky, hazardous
Also: perilous
📝 In Action
Hacer esa inversión fue muy arriesgado, pero valió la pena.
B1Making that investment was very risky, but it was worth it.
El camino por la montaña es arriesgado en invierno debido a la nieve.
B1The mountain road is hazardous in winter because of the snow.
Ella propuso un plan arriesgado para terminar el proyecto a tiempo.
B2She proposed a risky plan to finish the project on time.
daring, bold
Also: adventurous
📝 In Action
Es un diseñador muy arriesgado; siempre usa colores que nadie más se atreve a combinar.
B2He is a very bold designer; he always uses colors no one else dares to combine.
Mi hermana es arriesgada y siempre prueba deportes extremos.
B2My sister is daring and always tries extreme sports.
Fue una decisión arriesgada dejar su trabajo para empezar su propio negocio.
C1It was an adventurous/bold decision to quit her job to start her own business.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: arriesgado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'arriesgado' to describe a person's personality?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Arriesgado' is the past participle of the verb 'arriesgar' (to risk). The root word is 'riesgo' (risk), which came into Spanish from Italian 'risco' or 'rischio', referring to sailing near dangerous cliffs or rocks.
First recorded: 15th century (root verb)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'arriesgado' and 'riesgoso'?
They are synonyms and often interchangeable, both meaning 'risky.' However, 'arriesgado' is much more common and broadly used across all Spanish-speaking regions. 'Riesgoso' is sometimes preferred in formal contexts or certain Latin American countries.
How do I use 'arriesgado' to talk about a past action?
Since 'arriesgado' is the past participle of 'arriesgar,' you can use it with 'haber' to form perfect tenses, but most commonly, you use it as an adjective to describe the outcome: 'El salto fue arriesgado' (The jump was risky).