desatar

deh-sah-tahr/desaˈtaɾ/

“desatar” means “to untie” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to untie🔊A2Verb

knots, strings, or shoelaces

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to unleash🔊B2Verb

feelings, storms, or war

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to untie

Also: to unfasten

VerbA2regular ar

A close-up of a hand loosening a simple knot in a thick rope.

gerunddesatando

past Participledesatado

infinitivedesatar

📝 In Action

Por favor, desata los cordones de tus zapatos.

Please, untie your shoelaces.

No puedo desatar este nudo porque está muy apretado.

I can't untie this knot because it is very tight.

Ella desató el paquete con mucho cuidado.

She unfastened the package very carefully.

Word Connections

Synonyms

desanudar (to unknot)

Antonyms

atar (to tie)
anudar (to knot)

Common Collocations

desatar los cordones – to untie shoelaces
desatar un nudo – to untie a knot

to unleash

Also: to spark

VerbB2regular ar

A dramatic storm cloud with bright lightning striking a dark landscape.

gerunddesatando

past Participledesatado

infinitivedesatar

📝 In Action

Sus palabras desataron una gran polémica.

His words sparked a big controversy.

La noticia desató el pánico entre los ciudadanos.

The news unleashed panic among the citizens.

Se desató una tormenta terrible anoche.

A terrible storm broke loose last night.

Word Connections

Synonyms

desencadenar (to trigger/unleash)
provocar (to cause/provoke)

Antonyms

contener (to contain)
calmar (to calm)

Common Collocations

desatar la ira – to unleash anger
desatar una guerra – to start/unleash a war
desatar una crisis – to spark a crisis

Idioms & Expressions

desatar la lengua – To start talking a lot, often revealing secrets

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesataran

yodesatara

túdesataras

vosotrosdesatarais

nosotrosdesatáramos

él/ella/usteddesatara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesaten

yodesate

túdesates

vosotrosdesatéis

nosotrosdesatemos

él/ella/usteddesate

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesataron

yodesaté

túdesataste

vosotrosdesatasteis

nosotrosdesatamos

él/ella/usteddesató

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesataban

yodesataba

túdesatabas

vosotrosdesatabais

nosotrosdesatábamos

él/ella/usteddesataba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesatan

yodesato

túdesatas

vosotrosdesatáis

nosotrosdesatamos

él/ella/usteddesata

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Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "desatar" in Spanish:

to spark→to unfasten→to unleash→to untie→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: desatar

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence uses 'desatar' correctly for a physical action?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

atar(to tie) — Verb

atadura(a tie or bond) — Noun

desatado(untied or wild) — Adjective

🎵 Rhymes▼

cantar lugar mirar

📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish prefix 'des-' (indicating reversal) and the verb 'atar' (to tie), which comes from the Latin 'aptare', meaning 'to fit' or 'to fasten'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: desatar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'desatar' a regular verb?

Yes! It follows the standard rules for all verbs ending in '-ar' in all tenses.

Can I use 'desatar' instead of 'soltar'?

'Desatar' specifically means to undo a knot or tie. 'Soltar' means to let go or release something you are holding. If you are undoing a rope, use 'desatar'.

What does 'desatar la lengua' mean?

It is a common idiom that means to get someone to start talking a lot, especially someone who was previously quiet or keeping a secret.