ríe
“ríe” means “laughs (he/she/it)” in Spanish (present action).
laughs (he/she/it), you laugh (formal)
Also: laugh!
📝 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.
🔄 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
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'reír' comes directly from the Latin verb *rīdēre*, which also meant 'to laugh.' The accent mark in Spanish is necessary to preserve the two distinct vowel sounds that existed in the original Latin word.
First recorded: Documented in Spanish texts since the early Middle Ages.
Cognates (Related words)
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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').