Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| dar por sentado | /ˌdaɾ poɾ senˈtado/ |
| dar por descontado | /daɾ poɾ deskontado/ (from spelling rules) |
| menospreciar | /menospɾeˈθjaɾ/ /menospɾeˈsjaɾ/ |
| subestimar | /subestiˈmaɾ/ |
| dar por hecho | /ˌdaɾ poɾ ˈet͡ʃo/ |
| no valorar | /no baloɾaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| tomar por sentado | /tomaɾ poɾ sentado/ (from spelling rules) |
Depending on the context, 'take for granted' can mean assuming something is true without checking or failing to appreciate the value of something. If you mean to assume a fact is certain, use dar por sentado, dar por hecho or tomar por sentado. If you mean to underestimate the value of a person or thing, use menospreciar, subestimar or no valorar.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase dar por sentado literally means 'to give as settled' or 'to give as certain'.
Which one should you use?
Dar por sentado is used when you assume something is true without verifying it. In contrast, menospreciar is used specifically when you underestimate the actual value of something. Dar por hecho is often used to mean taking something as a done deal, specifically assuming an action or event will definitely happen. While dar por sentado is a standard way to express the idea, tomar por sentado is a common synonym used interchangeably in many regions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Tomar por sentado is used interchangeably with dar por sentado in many Spanish-speaking regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the phrase dar por sentado to refer to a specific noun, the adjective must agree in gender with that noun. For example, you would say dar la situación por sentada to match the feminine noun 'situación'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌdaɾ poɾ senˈtado/
Did you know?
- In the phrase 'dar por sentado', the word 'sentado' is the past participle of 'sentar', which means 'to sit'. In this context, it does not mean 'to sit down', but rather 'to be settled' or 'fixed'.
- While dar por sentado is the standard translation, the use of tomar por sentado is often seen as an influence from the English 'take for granted'.
- While 'subestimar' refers to the value of something, using 'menospreciar' can feel much more personal and insulting, as it implies a lack of respect rather than just a mathematical error in estimation.
Examples in context
- No debemos dar por sentado el esfuerzo de nuestros seres queridos.We should not take for granted the efforts of our loved ones.
- No deberías dar por hecho que siempre estaré aquí para ayudarte.You shouldn't take for granted that I'll always be here to help you.
- No quiero pasar por alto el esfuerzo que hiciste para este proyecto.I don't want to take for granted the effort you put into this project.
- No deberíamos dar por sentado el amor que nuestros padres nos brindan.We shouldn't take for granted the love our parents give us.
- No des por hecho que siempre tendrás buena salud.Don't take it for granted that you will always have good health.
- No quiero pasar por alto tu apoyo constante en mi vida.I don't want to take your constant support in my life for granted.
- No debemos dar por sentado el esfuerzo de los demás.We should not take the effort of others for granted.
- No puedes dar por sentado que ella te perdonará.You cannot take for granted that she will forgive you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “take for granted” translations and entries dar por sentado, dar por descontado, menospreciar, subestimar, dar por hecho, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
