A friendly character, smiling and standing in a brightly lit doorway, holds out a decorative, closed envelope with both hands, symbolizing the act of extending an invitation.

invito

een-VEE-toh

VerbA1regular ar

I invite?to an event, party, or place,I'm treating?I'm paying for the meal, drinks, or ticket

Also:I pay for?when offering to cover the cost,I urge?figuratively, to encourage action

Quick Reference

infinitiveinvitar

gerundinvitando

past Participleinvitado

📝 In Action

Yo invito a María a mi fiesta de cumpleaños.

I invite Maria to my birthday party.

No te preocupes por la cuenta, ¡yo invito!

Don't worry about the bill, I'm treating!

Te invito un café si me ayudas con esto.

I'll buy you a coffee if you help me with this.

Te invito a reflexionar sobre tu decisión.

I urge you to reflect on your decision.

Word Connections

Synonyms

convido (I invite (less common))
pago (I pay)

Common Collocations

Yo invito la casa – The drinks/food are on the house (I'm paying for everyone)
Invito a cenar – I invite (someone) to dinner

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'A' After Invitar

When inviting a person, you must use the preposition 'a': 'Invito a mi amigo' (I invite my friend). The 'a' is essential.

Inviting to an Action

To invite someone to DO something, use 'invitar a' followed by the base form of the second verb: 'Invito a bailar' (I invite [you] to dance).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Invitar' and 'Pagar'

Mistake: "Using 'Yo pago' when you want to make the grand gesture of treating someone."

Correction: 'Yo invito' is much more natural and friendly when offering to pay for a shared expense like a meal, implying a generous gesture.

⭐ Usage Tips

The Power of 'Yo Invito'

Saying 'Yo invito' in a restaurant is the standard, polite way to claim the bill. It’s a very common phrase that signals generosity.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedinvita

yoinvito

túinvitas

ellos/ellas/ustedesinvitan

nosotrosinvitamos

vosotrosinvitáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedinvitaba

yoinvitaba

túinvitabas

ellos/ellas/ustedesinvitaban

nosotrosinvitábamos

vosotrosinvitabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedinvitó

yoinvité

túinvitaste

ellos/ellas/ustedesinvitaron

nosotrosinvitamos

vosotrosinvitasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedinvite

yoinvite

túinvites

ellos/ellas/ustedesinviten

nosotrosinvitemos

vosotrosinvitéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedinvitara/invitase

yoinvitara/invitase

túinvitaras/invitases

ellos/ellas/ustedesinvitaran/invitasen

nosotrosinvitáramos/invitásemos

vosotrosinvitarais/invitaseis

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: invito

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'invito' to mean 'I am paying for the bill'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

invitar(to invite, to treat) - verb

invitación(invitation) - noun

invitado(guest) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

If 'invito' means 'I invite,' why does it often mean 'I'm paying'?

The meaning shifted because when you 'invite' someone to dinner or a drink, it often implies a host/guest relationship where the host (the one inviting) pays the expense. Over time, 'Yo invito' became a shortcut for 'I'm paying for this as a treat'.

Is 'invito' used only for people I know?

No. While you often invite friends, you can use 'invito' to invite anyone to an event, or to offer to pay for a stranger's coffee. It's a very flexible and generally positive word.