invita
/in-VEE-tah/
invites
When invita means 'invites,' it describes the act of asking someone to participate or attend.
invita(Verb (Conjugated Form))
invites
?He/She/It/You (formal) invites
,Invite!
?Informal command (tú)
is inviting
?Current action
📝 In Action
Mi hermana invita a toda la familia a la cena de Navidad.
A1My sister invites the whole family to Christmas dinner.
Ella siempre invita con mucha anticipación.
A2She always invites well in advance.
¡Invita a tu amigo a jugar con nosotros!
A1Invite your friend to play with us!
💡 Grammar Points
Dual Role of 'Invita'
'Invita' is used in two main ways: 1) To say 'he, she, or formal you' is inviting (present tense), and 2) As the informal command 'Invite!' (tú form).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Preposition Use
Mistake: "Invita su amigo a la fiesta."
Correction: Invita a su amigo a la fiesta. (Always use 'a' before a person when they receive the invitation.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
If you are talking to a friend, use the command '¡Invita!' (tú). If you are talking to a colleague or elder, use the formal command '¡Invite!' (usted).
In Spanish, invita often means 'treats,' specifically paying for someone else's food or drink.
invita(Verb (Conjugated Form))
treats
?pays for someone else's food/drink
buys
?buys a round
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo siempre invita el postre cuando salimos.
A2My grandfather always treats us to dessert when we go out.
Ella nunca deja que yo pague; siempre invita.
B1She never lets me pay; she always treats.
¡Invita una cerveza!
A2Buy me a beer! / Treat me to a beer! (Informal command)
💡 Grammar Points
Paying the Bill
When 'invita' means 'to pay for,' the item being paid for (like 'el café' or 'la cena') is the direct receiver of the action.
⭐ Usage Tips
Social Gesture
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, arguing over who 'invita' (pays) is a common friendly ritual. It’s a way of showing generosity.
Invita can also mean 'prompts' or 'encourages,' suggesting or encouraging an action.
invita(Verb (Conjugated Form))
prompts
?suggests or encourages
encourages
?creates the conditions for
📝 In Action
El silencio del lugar invita a la meditación.
B1The silence of the place prompts meditation.
Su generosidad invita a la confianza.
B2His generosity encourages trust.
💡 Grammar Points
Metaphorical Subject
In this usage, the subject is usually an abstract idea, a situation, or a setting (e.g., 'the silence,' 'the atmosphere') rather than a person.
⭐ Usage Tips
Elevating Language
Use this meaning when writing essays or giving presentations to make your language sound more descriptive and sophisticated.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: invita
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'invita' to mean 'pays for'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'invita' a command or a statement?
It can be both! 'Invita' is the form used for 'He/She/It invites' (a statement) AND the informal command 'Invite!' (tú form). You must look at the context and the subject (if provided) to know which it is.
How do I say 'I invite' or 'We invite'?
Since 'invita' only works for the third person singular (él/ella/usted) or the informal command, you must change the ending: 'I invite' is 'Yo invito' and 'We invite' is 'Nosotros invitamos'.