dar
/dar/
to give
The most common meaning of 'dar' is 'to give' or 'to hand' something to someone.
dar(Verb)
to give
?transferring an object to someone
to hand
?passing something to someone
,to provide
?supplying something needed
📝 In Action
Mi abuela siempre me da veinte euros por mi cumpleaños.
A1My grandmother always gives me twenty euros for my birthday.
¿Me das la sal, por favor?
A1Can you give me the salt, please?
Le di las llaves al recepcionista.
A2I gave the keys to the receptionist.
💡 Grammar Points
Who gets what?
When you give something (like a book) to someone (like Maria), you use little words like 'me', 'te', 'le' to show who is receiving it. Example: 'Le doy el libro a Maria' (I give the book to Maria).
A Very Irregular Verb
'Dar' is a rule-breaker! Notice how 'yo' in the present is 'doy', not 'do'. The past tense (preterite) is also completely unique ('di', 'diste', 'dio'...). It's best to memorize these common forms.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Dar' vs. 'Regalar'
Mistake: "Quiero darte este suéter para tu cumpleaños."
Correction: Quiero regalarte este suéter para tu cumpleaños. Use 'regalar' when you mean 'to give as a gift'. 'Dar' is more general and can mean just handing something over.
⭐ Usage Tips
Politely Asking for Things
Instead of saying 'I want...', a more natural and polite way to ask for something in a shop or restaurant is to use '¿Me das...?'. For example, '¿Me das un café, por favor?' (Can you give me a coffee, please?).
In idiomatic phrases like 'dar un paseo', 'dar' means 'to take' a walk or 'to throw' a party.
dar(Verb)
to give / to throw
?for a party or event
to teach
?for a class
,to give
?for a speech or presentation
,to take
?for a walk or a ride
📝 In Action
Vamos a dar una fiesta el sábado.
A2We're going to throw a party on Saturday.
El profesor da clases de historia.
A2The professor gives/teaches history classes.
Me gusta dar un paseo por el parque por la tarde.
B1I like to take a walk in the park in the afternoon.
⭐ Usage Tips
Think 'Produce' or 'Perform'
For this meaning, think of 'dar' as 'producing' or 'performing' an action or event. You 'produce' a party, you 'perform' a class. This helps connect many of these common phrases.
In descriptive language, 'dar a' means 'to face' or 'to overlook' a location, such as the sea.
dar(Verb)
to face / to overlook
?a window or building's orientation
to yield / to produce
?crops or results
,to strike / to hit
?the clock striking an hour
📝 In Action
Nuestra habitación de hotel da al mar.
B1Our hotel room overlooks the sea.
Este árbol no da fruta.
B1This tree doesn't produce fruit.
El reloj dio las doce y nos fuimos a dormir.
B2The clock struck twelve and we went to sleep.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Word for Connection
This use shows how 'dar' can mean 'to result in' or 'to connect to'. Think of a window 'giving' its view to the sea, or a tree 'giving' its fruit to the world.
Idiomatic phrases use 'dar' to mean 'to cause a feeling,' as in 'dar miedo' (to cause fear/to scare).
dar(Verb)
to cause a feeling
?in expressions like 'dar miedo' (to be scary)
to realize
?in the phrase 'darse cuenta de'
📝 In Action
Las películas de terror me dan miedo.
B1Horror movies scare me (literally: give me fear).
No me di cuenta de la hora que era.
B1I didn't realize what time it was.
¡Date prisa, que perdemos el tren!
A2Hurry up, or we'll miss the train!
¿Qué más da? Ya es tarde.
B2What difference does it make? It's already late.
💡 Grammar Points
Feelings Happen To You
In Spanish, things 'give' feelings to you. Instead of 'I am scared' (Yo estoy asustado), it's common to say 'It gives me fear' (Me da miedo). This works for hunger (me da hambre), thirst (me da sed), and many other feelings.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'de' with 'darse cuenta'
Mistake: "Me di cuenta que era tarde."
Correction: Me di cuenta de que era tarde. The phrase is always 'darse cuenta de algo' (to realize something). Don't forget the little word 'de'!
⭐ Usage Tips
Start with 'Me da...'
A great way to express your opinion or feeling about something is to start a sentence with 'Me da...'. For example: 'Me da pena' (It makes me sad), 'Me da vergüenza' (It makes me embarrassed), 'Me da risa' (It makes me laugh).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly means 'The dark scares me'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'dar' and 'regalar'?
Think of 'dar' as the general word for 'to give' or 'to hand over'. 'Regalar' is more specific and means 'to give as a gift'. You would 'dar' the salt to someone at the table, but you would 'regalar' a present for their birthday.
Why is 'doy' the form for 'I give'? It doesn't follow the normal '-ar' pattern.
'Dar' is a very old and common verb, and these types of verbs are often irregular. The 'yo' form of many important verbs has a unique ending (like tengo, hago, pongo). 'Doy' is one you just have to memorize, but you'll use it so often it will quickly feel natural!
What does 'darse' mean?
'Darse' is the reflexive form, where the action happens to the person doing it. It's used in many set phrases. The most common is 'darse cuenta de', which means 'to realize'. You aren't giving an account to someone else, you're 'giving it to yourself'—you're the one who understands.