baila
/BAH-ee-lah/
dances
This illustration shows someone who dances (baila).
baila(Verb)
dances
?He/she/it dances; You (formal) dance
is dancing
?Action happening right now
📝 In Action
Mi hermana baila salsa muy bien.
A1My sister dances salsa very well.
¿Usted baila en las fiestas?
A1Do you (formal) dance at parties?
El bebé baila cuando escucha música.
A1The baby dances when he hears music.
💡 Grammar Points
Who is Dancing?
In Spanish, 'baila' can mean 'he dances,' 'she dances,' or 'you (formal) dance.' Since the ending is the same, you rely on the context to know who the subject is, or you use the pronoun (él, ella, usted) for clarity.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'You' Forms
Mistake: "Learners sometimes forget that 'baila' can be the polite way to talk about 'you' (usted)."
Correction: Remember that the usted form ('you formal') always uses the same verb ending as 'he/she' (él/ella).
⭐ Usage Tips
Simple Regular Verb
'Bailar' is a perfect example of a regular -AR verb. Once you know the pattern for 'baila,' you know the pattern for thousands of other Spanish verbs!
The imperative command, Dance! (¡Baila!), is depicted by one figure inviting or commanding another to join the dance.
📝 In Action
¡Baila! La música es muy buena.
A2Dance! The music is really good.
No te quedes sentado, ¡baila!
A2Don't stay seated, dance!
💡 Grammar Points
Affirmative Commands
To tell a friend to 'do' a regular -AR action, you use the same form as the 'he/she' present tense. So 'baila' means both 'he dances' AND 'Dance!'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Commands
Mistake: "Using 'bailas' when trying to give a command, which is incorrect."
Correction: The command form for tú (friendly 'you') is always the simple 'baila' (the same as él/ella/usted).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: baila
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'baila' as a command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'baila' and 'está bailando'?
'Baila' is the simple present tense (He/She dances, or He/She habitually dances). 'Está bailando' is the present progressive (He/She is dancing) and specifically emphasizes that the action is happening right this second.
Why does 'baila' mean two different things (a statement and a command)?
Many regular Spanish verbs reuse the same form for two different jobs: the third-person statement ('he/she does it') and the informal command ('do it!'). You can tell the difference based on the context, tone, or if the subject (tú, usted) is used.