What does it mean word for word?
Literally, dar un paseo means 'to give a stroll'.
Which one should you use?
While dar un paseo is a common way to express the idea, you might encounter other variations: dar una vuelta or darse una vuelta are used to mean 'take a walk' or 'take a spin' and dar una caminadita is an informal diminutive form of dar una caminata used to suggest taking a short, leisurely walk.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase dar un paseo, the verb dar (to give) must be conjugated to change the tense, while the noun phrase un paseo remains fixed. For example, to say 'we take a stroll', you conjugate the verb to the first-person plural form as damos un paseo. The verb pasear can also be used intransitively to mean 'to take a stroll'.
How do you pronounce it?
/daɾ un paseo/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, dar un paseo is not just exercise but a social ritual known as el paseo, where people dress up to walk and be seen by their community.
- While dar un paseo means 'to take a stroll', the word paseo also refers to a specific architectural feature: a wide, tree-lined promenade designed specifically for leisurely walking.
- The word paseo shares an ancient linguistic ancestor with the Greek verb meaning 'to shake' or 'to move'.
Examples in context
- Me gusta dar un paseo por el parque los domingosI enjoy taking a stroll in the park on Sundays
- Vamos a dar una caminata al atardecerLet's take a stroll at sunset
- Me gusta pasear por la playaI like to take a stroll along the beach
- Paseo a mi perro todas las mañanasI take my dog for a walk every morning
- Vamos a darnos una vuelta por el centro comercialLet's take a stroll around the mall
- Después de cenar, me gusta dar una vuelta por el vecindarioAfter dinner, I like to take a stroll around the neighborhood
- Vamos a dar una caminadita al parqueLet's take a little stroll to the park
- Voy a dar un paseoI am going to take a stroll
- Démonos una vueltaLet's take a stroll
- Me gusta dar un paseo tranquilo por el parque los domingos por la mañanaI enjoy taking a leisurely stroll in the park on Sunday mornings
- ¡Vamos a dar una vuelta de una vez!Let's go for a stroll already!
- Vamos a dar un paseo por el parque.Let's take a stroll through the park.
- Me gusta dar un paseo por la playa.I like to take a stroll along the beach.
- Podemos dar un paseo después de cenar.We can take a stroll after dinner.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are deciding what to do on a sunny afternoon.
- Mateo¿Quieres dar un paseo por el centro?Do you want to take a stroll through downtown?
- SofíaSí, Mateo, me parece una buena idea.Yes, Mateo, I think that's a good idea.
- MateoEl clima está perfecto para caminar.The weather is perfect for walking.
- SofíaEntonces, vamos a dar un paseo ahora.Then, let's take a stroll now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dar, paseo, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
