tirar los dados
/tiɾaɾ los dados/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "rolling dice" is expressed as tirar los dados.
The phrase refers to the act of throwing small cubes with numbered faces to determine a random outcome in a game.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tirar los dados is literally translated as "to throw the dice".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is built around the verb tirar. For example, to say "I rolled the dice" in the past tense, you would say tiré los dados.
How do you pronounce it?
/tiɾaɾ los dados/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word dado for 'die' shares the same root as the word for 'given'. This reflects the historical idea that the outcome of a roll is something 'given' by fate or chance.
- While tirar means 'to throw' in the context of dice, it can also mean 'to pull' or 'to tug' in other contexts. A Spanish speaker might tell you to tirar a door to open it, meaning you should pull it toward you.
- The word los in the phrase is a grammatical fossil of the Latin demonstrative 'ille', which originally meant 'that one' before becoming a simple definite article.
Examples in context
- Vamos a lanzar los dados para decidir quién juega primero.We are going to roll the dice to decide who plays first.
- En el próximo turno, tú lanzas los dados para decidir si ganas o pierdes.On the next turn, you roll the dice to decide if you win or lose.
- Si sacas un seis en el primer lanzamiento, avanzas dos casillas.If you roll a six on the first throw, you move two squares ahead.
- Es tu turno de tirar los dados.It is your turn to roll the dice.
- Me gusta tirar los dados en este juego.I like rolling dice in this game.
- No quiero tirar los dados todavía.I don't want to roll the dice yet.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are playing a board game at a cafe.
- Daniel¿Quieres tirar los dados tú?Do you want to roll the dice?
- SofíaSí, Daniel, voy a tirar los dados ahora.Yes, Daniel, I am going to roll the dice now.
- Daniel¡Qué suerte has tenido!You have been so lucky!
- Sofía¡Es verdad! Fue un número muy alto.It's true! It was a very high number.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries los, tirar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
