desayuno
/desaˈʝuno/
To say "I have breakfast" in Spanish, use desayuno.
This phrase is used to say that you are eating the first meal of the day.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the expression Tomar el desayuno is commonly used to express the act of having breakfast. In Mexico, you might say Desayuno todos los días to mean "I have breakfast every day".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word desayuno can function as both the noun "breakfast" and the first-person singular present tense verb "I eat breakfast". If you wish to refer to the action itself in its base form, use the infinitive verb desayunar.
How do you pronounce it?
/desaˈʝuno/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying tengo desayuno. While this literally translates to "I possess a breakfast" in English, it is an incorrect way to say you are eating the meal. Instead, use the verb desayuno.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish speaking cultures, the 'breakfast' desayuno is a light snack, followed by a larger, second breakfast called almuerzo later in the morning.
- In Spain, a typical desayuno often includes a tostada with olive oil and grated tomato, a combination rarely seen in English breakfast traditions.
- The Spanish word desayuno shares a common linguistic root with the French word déjeuner and the Portuguese word desjejum.
Examples in context
- Desayuno todas las mañanas.I have breakfast every morning.This sentence shows how to say you have breakfast every morning using desayuno.Tatoeba #1633568 by teskmon, translation #261814 by CK
- Desayuno a las siete todas las mañanas.I have breakfast at seven every morning.This sentence uses desayuno to specify the time you eat breakfast every morning.Tatoeba #774056 by Shishir, translation #261843 by CK
- Desayuno a las siete.I have breakfast at seven.This sentence uses desayuno to state the time you have breakfast.Tatoeba #859797 by Daga007, translation #252624 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are talking in the kitchen.
- Elena¿Quieres café, Daniel?Do you want coffee, Daniel?
- DanielNo, gracias, yo ya desayuno.No, thanks, I'm already having breakfast.
- ElenaEstá bien, yo desayuno ahora.That's fine, I'm having breakfast now.
- DanielQue aproveche, Elena.Enjoy your meal, Elena.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry desayuno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries desayuno, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
