ríe
rree-eh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Mi hermano ríe mucho cuando ve esa película.
A1My brother laughs a lot when he watches that movie.
Usted ríe, pero no entiende la broma.
A2You (formal) laugh, but you don't understand the joke.
¡Ríe! No te tomes la vida tan en serio.
A2Laugh! Don't take life so seriously.
💡 Grammar Points
Dual Function of 'Ríe'
'Ríe' works in two ways: it describes what a single person (he, she, or formal you) is doing right now ('él ríe'), and it is the informal way to tell a friend to laugh ('¡ríe!').
Accent Mark Requirement
The verb 'reír' is unusual because it requires an accent mark over the 'i' in most of its present tense conjugations (río, ríes, ríe, ríen) to show that the 'i' and 'e' sounds are separate.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Laugh' and 'Smile'
Mistake: "Using 'ríe' when you mean 'sonríe' (to smile)."
Correction: 'Ríe' means a full, audible laugh. If someone is just smiling silently, use 'sonríe' (a form of 'sonreír').
⭐ Usage Tips
Reflexive Use
You can sometimes see 'reírse' (to laugh at/make fun of someone). If you add 'se,' it often means the action is directed at someone else: 'Se ríe de mí' (He laughs at me).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ríe
Question 1 of 2
Which of these sentences uses 'ríe' as a command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'reír' have an accent mark when most verbs don't?
The accent mark on the 'í' (río, ríe, ríes, etc.) is crucial. It tells you to pronounce the 'i' and the following vowel separately, preventing them from blending into one syllable. This maintains the original pronunciation pattern of the root word.
What is the difference between 'ríe' and 'se ríe'?
'Ríe' simply means 'he/she laughs.' 'Se ríe' often implies that the person is laughing *at* something or someone, especially if followed by the preposition 'de' (e.g., 'se ríe de la situación').