reír
/reh-EER/
to laugh
Reír: To laugh (general action).
📝 In Action
Ella siempre ríe cuando ve esa película.
A1She always laughs when she watches that movie.
¿Por qué estás riendo? Cuéntame el chiste.
A2Why are you laughing? Tell me the joke.
Los niños empezaron a reír a carcajadas.
B1The children started to laugh out loud.
💡 Grammar Points
The Stress Mark
The accent mark on the 'í' (río, ríes) is essential! It tells you to pronounce the 'i' and 'e' separately, emphasizing the 'i,' instead of blending them into one sound.
Stem Change in Subjunctive
In the special verb forms (like the subjunctive), the 'e' in the stem often changes to an 'i': 'reír' becomes 'riendo' (the -ing form) or 'ría' (the wish/command form).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the Accent
Mistake: "Yo rio (pronounced as one syllable, 'ryo')"
Correction: Yo río (pronounced as two syllables, 'ree-oh'). Always include the accent to keep the two vowels separate!
⭐ Usage Tips
Use of 'De'
If you are laughing at something or someone, you must use the reflexive form 'reírse' followed by 'de'. (See Definition 2).
Reír (a): To laugh at (to ridicule or mock someone).
reír(verb)
to laugh at
?to ridicule or mock someone
to make fun of
?teasing or scoffing
📝 In Action
No te rías de su acento; es de otro país.
B1Don't laugh at his accent; he is from another country.
Todos se rieron del político después de su error.
B2Everyone laughed at the politician after his mistake.
Me río de mis propios errores para aprender.
B1I laugh at my own mistakes to learn.
💡 Grammar Points
Pronominal Action
When you use 'reírse' (with the 'se'), it means the action is directed outwards, usually followed by the preposition 'de' (at/about).
The 'Me' and 'Te'
Remember to include the small word that matches the subject: 'Yo me río' (I laugh at), 'Tú te ríes' (You laugh at), 'Ellos se ríen' (They laugh at).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the 'De'
Mistake: "Ella se ríe su ropa. (Incorrect structure)"
Correction: Ella se ríe de su ropa. (You must include 'de' when laughing at an object or person.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Meaning Shift
While 'reír' is purely positive (to laugh), 'reírse de' often carries a negative connotation of disrespect or mockery.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: reír
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses the verb 'reír' in its directed, pronominal form?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'reír' have an accent mark on the 'í'?
The accent mark is used to break up the vowel combination, ensuring that 'e' and 'í' are pronounced as two separate syllables (reh-EER) rather than blending them into a single diphthong sound.
What is the difference between 'reír' and 'sonreír'?
'Reír' means to laugh (making noise), while 'sonreír' means to smile (quietly showing amusement with the mouth).