ríen
“ríen” means “they laugh” in Spanish (referring to a group of people (ellos/ellas)).
they laugh, you all laugh
Also: they are laughing
📝 In Action
Los niños siempre ríen cuando ven dibujos animados.
A1The children always laugh when they watch cartoons.
¿Por qué ríen? ¿Qué es tan divertido?
A2Why are you all laughing? What is so funny?
Ellos ríen de las desgracias de otros, lo cual no es amable.
B1They laugh at the misfortunes of others, which is not kind.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "ríen" in Spanish:
they laugh→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ríen
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish pronoun would NOT typically use the verb form 'ríen'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb *reír* comes from the Latin word *ridere*, meaning 'to laugh.' The accent mark and the 'e' changing to 'i' are part of how the word evolved its modern Spanish sound.
First recorded: Appeared in Spanish as early as the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does *reír* have an accent mark on the 'i' in forms like *ríen*?
The accent mark is there to tell you how to pronounce the word. It forces the stress onto the 'i' and prevents the 'ei' from blending into a single syllable sound (a diphthong). This preserves the sound of the word.
Is 'ríen' the same as 'están riendo'?
They are very similar! 'Ríen' means 'They laugh' (habitually or right now). 'Están riendo' (the progressive form) means 'They are laughing' right this instant. You can usually use 'ríen' for both meanings in conversation.