desayunar

deh-sah-yoo-NAHRdes.a.ʝuˈnaɾ

“desayunar” means “to eat breakfast” in Spanish (The standard morning meal).

to eat breakfast, to have breakfast

Also: to break one's fast

VerbA1regular ar

Mexico

A person is sitting at a kitchen table, happily eating a plate of breakfast food, specifically an egg and toast.

infinitivedesayunar

gerunddesayunando

past Participledesayunado

📝 In Action

¿Qué sueles desayunar por las mañanas?

What do you usually have for breakfast in the mornings?

Desayunamos tostadas y café antes de ir al trabajo.

We ate toast and coffee before going to work.

Si no desayunas bien, tendrás hambre pronto.

If you don't eat breakfast well, you will be hungry soon.

Word Connections

Synonyms

tomar el desayuno (to take breakfast)

Antonyms

ayunar (to fast)

Common Collocations

desayunar fuerte – to eat a big breakfast
desayunar ligero – to eat a light breakfast

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/usteddesayuna

yodesayuno

túdesayunas

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesayunan

nosotrosdesayunamos

vosotrosdesayunáis

imperfect

él/ella/usteddesayunaba

yodesayunaba

túdesayunabas

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesayunaban

nosotrosdesayunábamos

vosotrosdesayunabais

preterite

él/ella/usteddesayunó

yodesayuné

túdesayunaste

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesayunaron

nosotrosdesayunamos

vosotrosdesayunasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/usteddesayune

yodesayune

túdesayunes

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesayunen

nosotrosdesayunemos

vosotrosdesayunéis

imperfect

él/ella/usteddesayunara

yodesayunara

túdesayunaras

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesayunaran

nosotrosdesayunáramos

vosotrosdesayunarais

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: desayunar

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the verb 'desayunar'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

el desayuno(breakfast (noun)) — Noun

el ayuno(fasting, fast (noun)) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

ayunaralmorzar

📚 Etymology▼

This word comes from the combination of the prefix 'des-' (meaning 'un-' or the opposite of an action) and the verb 'ayunar' (to fast). So, 'desayunar' literally means 'to un-fast,' which is exactly what eating breakfast is!

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: desjejuarFrench: déjeuner

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'desayunar' the only way to say 'to eat breakfast'?

While it is the most common and standard verb, you can also say 'tomar el desayuno' (to take breakfast) or simply 'comer el desayuno,' but using the verb 'desayunar' is the most natural and efficient choice.

Is 'desayunar' a stem-changing verb?

No, thankfully! 'Desayunar' is a regular -AR verb, meaning its stem ('desayun-') never changes, making it very easy to conjugate.