doy
/doy/
I give
Depicting the primary meaning of doy: I give (transferring an object).
doy(Verb)
I give
?transferring an object or possession
I hand over
?formally giving something to someone
📝 In Action
Yo te doy las llaves del coche.
A1I'll give you the car keys.
Siempre le doy un regalo a mi madre en su cumpleaños.
A1I always give my mom a gift on her birthday.
💡 Grammar Points
An Irregular 'Yo' Form
'Doy' is the 'yo' (I) form of the verb 'dar' (to give). While most '-ar' verbs change their ending to '-o' for 'yo', a few of the most common verbs, like 'dar', have a special, unique form you just have to remember.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'a'
Mistake: "Doy el libro Juan."
Correction: Le doy el libro a Juan. When you give something *to someone*, Spanish uses 'a' before the person's name and often adds a little word like 'le' or 'les' before the verb.
⭐ Usage Tips
Giving to 'You'
To say 'I give you', use 'te doy'. The 'te' (you) almost always comes right before the verb. For example, 'Te doy mi número' means 'I'll give you my number'.
Illustrating the use of doy to mean I teach (a lesson or class).
doy(Verb)
I teach
?delivering a class or lesson
I take (a walk)
?used with nouns to describe performing an action
,I give (a speech)
?delivering a presentation or talk
📝 In Action
Doy clases de guitarra los fines de semana.
A2I teach guitar lessons on the weekends.
Todos los días doy un paseo por el parque.
A2Every day I take a walk through the park.
Mañana doy una presentación en el trabajo.
B1Tomorrow I'm giving a presentation at work.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Hacer' instead of 'Dar'
Mistake: "Hago un paseo."
Correction: Doy un paseo. In English, we 'take a walk' or 'make a presentation'. In Spanish, you often 'give' these actions. It's a common pattern: 'dar' + a noun.
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Dar + Noun' Pattern
Think of 'dar' as a flexible verb for actions. Instead of learning a new verb for everything, you can often just combine 'dar' with a noun: 'dar un beso' (to give a kiss), 'dar un salto' (to take a jump).
Showing doy in the sense of I cause (e.g., I cause laughter).
doy(Verb)
I cause
?producing a state or feeling
I make (someone feel)
?e.g., I make someone hungry
,I strike / hit
?delivering a blow
📝 In Action
Con mis chistes, le doy risa a todo el mundo.
B1With my jokes, I make everyone laugh.
Me doy cuenta de que es tarde.
B1I realize that it's late.
Le doy un golpe a la mesa sin querer.
B1I hit the table by accident.
Desde mi ventana, doy al mar.
B2From my window, I look out onto the sea.
💡 Grammar Points
Reflexive Use: 'Darse'
Sometimes you'll see 'me doy'. This is from 'darse', a version of 'dar' that reflects the action back on 'me'. The phrase 'me doy cuenta' (I realize) is extremely common and means the realization is happening to me.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Sensations
In English, you say 'I AM hungry'. In Spanish, you can say 'Tengo hambre' (I have hunger) or describe what is causing the hunger: 'El olor de la panadería me da hambre' (The smell from the bakery gives me hunger/makes me hungry).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: doy
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'doy' to mean 'I teach'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it 'doy' and not 'do'? I thought '-ar' verbs end in '-o' for 'yo'.
You're right, most do! But Spanish has a few very common, very old verbs that are irregular in the 'yo' form. 'Dar' (to give) becomes 'doy', 'estar' (to be) becomes 'estoy', and 'ir' (to go) becomes 'voy'. Think of them as special VIP verbs you just have to memorize.
What's the difference between 'doy' and 'regalo'?
'Doy' is an action word (a verb) that means 'I give'. 'Regalo' can be a thing (a noun, meaning 'a gift') or another action word ('yo regalo', meaning 'I gift'). You use 'doy' to perform the action of giving something, like this: 'Doy un regalo' (I give a gift).