Inklingo

How to Say "to dare" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to dare” is “retar” — use 'retar' when you are provoking someone to do something difficult or risky, often in a competitive or playful manner..

retar🔊A2

Use 'retar' when you are provoking someone to do something difficult or risky, often in a competitive or playful manner.

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atrever🔊B1

Use 'atrever' when you want to express having the courage or nerve to do something, often implying a personal internal struggle or hesitation.

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desafiar🔊B1

Use 'desafiar' when you are directly confronting or provoking someone to do something difficult, often with a sense of opposition or competition.

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arriesgar🔊B1

Use 'arriesgar' (often as 'arriesgarse a') when the focus is on taking a risk or putting something valuable in jeopardy to achieve a goal.

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aventurar🔊B2

Use 'aventurar' when describing the act of venturing into the unknown or undertaking something new and potentially risky, often in a more formal or narrative context.

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English → Spanish

retar

/reh-TAHR//reˈtaɾ/

verbA2general
Use 'retar' when you are provoking someone to do something difficult or risky, often in a competitive or playful manner.
A knight holding a single glove, extending it toward another knight to start a duel.

Examples

Te reto a una carrera hasta la esquina.

I challenge you to a race to the corner.

El campeón retó al joven boxeador.

The champion challenged the young boxer.

Me retaron a saltar desde el trampolín más alto.

They dared me to jump from the highest diving board.

Using 'A' with People

Since you are challenging a person (the one receiving the action), you must use the 'personal a'. For example: 'Reto a Juan' (I challenge Juan).

Connecting to Actions

When you challenge someone TO do something, use the word 'a' before the second verb. Example: 'Te reto a comer esto' (I challenge you to eat this).

Missing the 'A'

Mistake: “Reto mi amigo.”

Correction: Reto a mi amigo. (Don't forget the 'personal a' when challenging a person!)

atrever

/ah-treh-BEHR//a.tɾeˈβeɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'atrever' when you want to express having the courage or nerve to do something, often implying a personal internal struggle or hesitation.
A small bird standing at the edge of a high branch, looking down and preparing to take its first flight.

Examples

No me atrevo a saltar desde tan alto.

I don't dare to jump from so high.

¿Te atreves a decirle la verdad a tu madre?

Do you dare to tell your mother the truth?

Se atrevió a pedir un aumento el primer día de trabajo.

He ventured to ask for a raise on his first day of work.

The 'Me/Te/Se' Rule

This verb is almost always used with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os). You aren't just 'daring,' you are 'daring yourself' to do something.

The 'A' Connection

When you dare to do an action, you must put 'a' before the next verb. For example: 'me atrevo A comer'.

Forgetting the 'A'

Mistake: “No me atrevo ir.”

Correction: No me atrevo a ir. (Always use 'a' before the following action verb).

Dropping the Pronoun

Mistake: “¿Atreves a saltar?”

Correction: ¿Te atreves a saltar? (You need the 'te' to make it sound natural in Spanish).

desafiar

/deh-sah-fyahr//desafiˈaɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'desafiar' when you are directly confronting or provoking someone to do something difficult, often with a sense of opposition or competition.
A child in a karate uniform pointing a finger at a wooden board, ready to strike it.

Examples

Él me desafió a una carrera de cien metros.

He challenged me to a hundred-meter race.

Los estudiantes desafiaron al profesor a resolver el acertijo.

The students challenged the teacher to solve the riddle.

No me desafíes si no estás seguro de ganar.

Don't challenge me if you aren't sure about winning.

Using the 'Personal A'

When you challenge a specific person or a group of people, you must put the little word 'a' before them. For example: 'Desafié a mi hermano'.

Stress on the 'i'

In many present-tense forms, the 'i' becomes stronger and gets an accent mark (desafío, desafías) to keep the correct sound.

Forgetting the 'A'

Mistake: “Desafié mi amigo.”

Correction: Desafié a mi amigo. (Because your friend is a person, you need the 'personal a'.)

arriesgar

ah-rrees-GAHR/a.rjesˈɣaɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'arriesgar' (often as 'arriesgarse a') when the focus is on taking a risk or putting something valuable in jeopardy to achieve a goal.
A small, adventurous cartoon rabbit is mid-air, leaping across a wide, deep canyon gap toward a safe ledge on the far side.

Examples

Tienes que arriesgarte si quieres ganar la lotería.

You have to take a risk if you want to win the lottery.

Me arriesgué a hablar con mi jefe sobre el aumento.

I risked speaking (I took a chance and spoke) to my boss about the raise.

Ellos se arriesgaron a viajar sin reservaciones.

They risked traveling without reservations.

The Reflexive Form

When you use 'arriesgarse,' the action reflects back onto the person doing it (I risk myself, you risk yourself). Remember to use the reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se).

Using 'A' After Arriesgarse

When 'arriesgarse' is followed by another action (a verb), you must use the preposition 'a' before the second verb: 'Me arriesgo a saltar' (I risk to jump).

Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun

Mistake: “Yo arriesgo a viajar solo (I risk to travel alone)”

Correction: Yo me arriesgo a viajar solo (I risk *myself* to travel alone. This is the natural way to say 'I take a chance'.)

aventurar

/ah-ben-too-RAR//aβentuˈɾaɾ/

verbB2general
Use 'aventurar' when describing the act of venturing into the unknown or undertaking something new and potentially risky, often in a more formal or narrative context.
A brave explorer standing at the entrance of a glowing, mysterious cave in a jungle.

Examples

Los exploradores se aventuraron en la cueva oscura.

The explorers ventured into the dark cave.

No me aventuro a caminar por ese barrio de noche.

I don't dare to walk through that neighborhood at night.

Se aventuró a abrir su propia empresa sin socios.

She ventured to open her own company without partners.

The preposition 'a'

When you use this word to say you 'dare to do something,' you must put an 'a' before the next action: 'Se aventuró a saltar'.

The preposition 'en'

When you are entering a physical place, use 'en': 'Se aventuraron en el bosque'.

Missing the pronoun

Mistake: “Aventuró en la selva.”

Correction: Se aventuró en la selva. If the person is moving themselves into the danger, the 'se' (pronoun) is necessary.

Challenging vs. Daring

Learners often confuse 'retar'/'desafiar' with 'atrever'. Remember that 'retar' and 'desafiar' are about provoking *another person*, while 'atrever' is about your *own* courage to do something.

Related Translations

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