desafío
/deh-sah-FEE-oh/
challenge
A challenging obstacle, or desafío, is often depicted as a steep mountain to climb.
desafío(noun)
challenge
?a difficult situation or task
dare
?an invitation to compete or prove something
,test
?a trial of skill or endurance
📝 In Action
El cambio climático es el mayor desafío que enfrenta nuestro planeta.
A2Climate change is the greatest challenge facing our planet.
Acepté el desafío de aprender a cocinar comida tailandesa.
B1I accepted the challenge of learning to cook Thai food.
Superar ese obstáculo fue un desafío personal muy importante.
B2Overcoming that obstacle was a very important personal challenge.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Articles
Even though it ends in '-o', which usually means a masculine word, 'desafío' is always masculine, using 'el' or 'un': 'el desafío'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Noun and Verb
Mistake: "Using 'desafío' (the noun) when you mean the action of challenging, which is the verb 'desafiar'."
Correction: Use the noun to talk about the obstacle ('El desafío es grande') and the verb to talk about the action ('Voy a desafiar a mi amigo').
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
While 'reto' is common for everyday or personal challenges, 'desafío' is often preferred in formal, political, or professional discussions.
When you say 'I challenge' (desafío), you are daring someone to compete or prove themselves.
desafío(verb)
I challenge
?1st person singular present indicative of 'desafiar'
I dare
?expressing a bold invitation
📝 In Action
Yo desafío a cualquiera a encontrar una solución mejor.
B1I challenge anyone to find a better solution.
Desafío tus creencias sobre la vida saludable.
B2I challenge your beliefs about healthy living.
💡 Grammar Points
The Accent Mark
The accent mark on the 'i' in 'desafío' is crucial! It tells you to stress that vowel, splitting the 'i' and 'o' into two separate sounds (des-a-FÍ-o). If the accent wasn't there, it would rhyme with 'radio' (des-A-fio).
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Verb
When you use 'desafío' as 'I challenge,' you usually follow it with 'a' if you are challenging a person ('Desafío a Juan') or directly with the object if you are challenging an idea ('Desafío la lógica').
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: desafío
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'desafío' (the noun)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'desafío' a strong word?
'Desafío' is a neutral word, but it carries weight. It implies a serious obstacle, goal, or confrontation. It's stronger than just 'dificultad' (difficulty) because it suggests a test that must be actively faced.
How is 'desafío' pronounced correctly?
The accent on the 'i' is key! It is pronounced 'deh-sah-FEE-oh,' with the stress clearly on the second-to-last syllable (the 'í').