reposar
“reposar” means “to rest” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to rest
Also: to lie down, to take a nap
📝 In Action
Después de correr, necesito reposar un poco.
A2After running, I need to rest a bit.
El doctor me recomendó reposar en cama por tres días.
B1The doctor recommended that I stay in bed for three days.
Es bueno reposar la comida antes de volver al trabajo.
B2It's good to let your food digest (rest) before going back to work.
to settle, to sit
Also: to steep
📝 In Action
Deja reposar la masa por treinta minutos.
B1Let the dough sit for thirty minutes.
El té debe reposar para que tenga buen sabor.
B2The tea must steep (rest) to have a good flavor.
El sedimento reposa en el fondo de la botella.
C1The sediment settles at the bottom of the bottle.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: reposar
Question 1 of 3
Which verb would a doctor use to tell you to stay in bed?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 're-' (again) and 'pausare' (to pause). It literally means to pause again to regain strength.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'reposar' the same as 'dormir'?
No. 'Dormir' means to sleep. 'Reposar' means to rest or stay still, but you can be awake while doing it.
Can I use 'reposar' for a glass of wine?
Yes! You 'dejas reposar' a wine so it breathes or so the sediment settles.
Is it a common word?
Yes, especially in Spain and Latin America during conversations about health and food.