te reto
/te ɾeto/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I dare you" is translated into Spanish as te reto.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, te reto means "I challenge you," where reto is the first-person singular present form of the verb retar, which means "to challenge".
Is it said differently in some regions?
When daring a group of people, the form depends on the region: in Spain, use os reto, while in Latin America, use los reto.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using this phrase to dare someone to do something, the verb reto is typically followed by the preposition a before an infinitive verb, such as in the structure te reto a…
How do you pronounce it?
/te ɾeto/
Did you know?
- If you want to sound much more provocative or playful, instead of saying te reto, try using the phrase a que no te atreves. This essentially translates to 'I bet you don't dare' and places the emphasis on the other person's perceived lack of courage.
- In a professional or personal growth context, a reto is often used as a positive synonym for a 'goal' or a 'striving objective'.
- The word reto shares a common ancestor with the English word 'repute', stemming from the Latin 'reputare', which means 'to consider' or 'to calculate'.
Examples in context
- Te reto a saltar sobre esta zanja.I dare you to jump over this ditch.This sentence shows how to use the phrase te reto followed by an infinitive to dare someone to perform an action.Tatoeba #10082592 by manufrutos, translation #1868746 by CK
- Te reto a saltar desde el trampolín más alto.I dare you to jump from the highest diving board.
- Te reto a comer esto.I dare you to eat this.
- Te reto a que me digas la verdad.I dare you to tell me the truth.
Example conversation
Two friends are playing a game in the park.
- SofíaTe reto a subir ese árbol.I dare you to climb that tree.
- Javier¿De verdad me estás retando?Are you really daring me?
- SofíaSí, te reto, Javier.Yes, I dare you, Javier.
- JavierEstá bien, lo haré.Fine, I'll do it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries reto, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
