Which one should you use?
While descansa acts as a direct command, adding un poco (a little) to the end, as in descansa un poco, makes the suggestion sound softer and more natural in conversation. To specify a shorter period of rest in a formal context, you can use Descanse un poco.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, one might say Descansa un ratito instead of Descansa to mean "rest for a little while".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form descansa is the informal singular imperative used when telling a friend or peer to get some rest. For a polite or formal singular imperative used when telling a stranger or superior to get some rest, use descanse. The infinitive form descansar is used after other verbs like necesitas (you need) or debes (you should) to mean "to rest".
How do you pronounce it?
/deskansa/
Did you know?
- The verb descansar is closely related to the word cansado, which means 'tired'. While the latter describes the state of exhaustion, descansar literally means to remove or move away from that tiredness.
- The phrase descansa en paz is used exclusively for the deceased, meaning you should never use it to tell a living person to go to sleep.
- While descansa is a command to rest, the expression dar un descanso can mean 'to give someone a break' in the sense of stopping a repetitive or annoying behavior.
Examples in context
- Tom trató de descansar.Tom tried to get some rest.This sentence shows the use of the verb form containing descansa in the past tense.Tatoeba #9471808 by hayastan, translation #7732973 by CK
- Necesitas descansar un poco.You need to get some rest.This sentence shows the use of the infinitive form containing descansa after another verb.Tatoeba #4951029 by DarkHollow, translation #3356329 by CK
- Descansa un poco.Get some rest.This sentence shows how to use descansa as a direct command.Tatoeba #1748264 by Shishir, translation #1553506 by CK
- Por favor, descanse un ratoPlease, get some rest for a while
- Debe descansar un poco antes de seguir trabajandoYou should get some rest before continuing to work
- Descansa un pocoGet some rest for a while
- DescansaRest
- Relájate y descansa un pocoRelax and get some rest for a while
- Juan, has estado estudiando toda la tarde. Descansa un ratito y luego termina tus tareas.Juan, you have been studying all evening. Rest for a little while and then finish your tasks.
- Laura, has estado corriendo toda la tarde. Tomá un descanso antes de seguir adelante.Laura, you have been running all afternoon. Take a break before moving forward.
- María, ha trabajado duro toda la semana. Por favor, descanse este fin de semana y vuelva renovada el lunes.María, you have worked hard all week. Please, get some rest this weekend and come back refreshed on Monday.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel is feeling very tired after a long day of work.
- SofíaPareces muy cansado, Daniel.You look very tired, Daniel.
- DanielSí, ha sido un día muy largo.Yes, it has been a very long day.
- SofíaVe a casa y descansa.Go home and get some rest.
- DanielGracias, Sofía, lo haré.Thanks, Sofía, I will.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
