relajarse
/relaxaɾse/from spelling rules
To wind down in Spanish is relajarse.
The term relajarse is used to express the act of winding down or relaxing. In a colloquial context, Spanish speakers also frequently use the verb desconectar to mean 'unplugging' or 'disconnecting' from their daily routines.
Meaning: to shut down slowly (verb)
Which one should you use?
While relajarse is the most common way to express winding down or relaxing, it focuses more on the state of relaxation than the specific process of a machine or system shutting down.
How does it change in a sentence?
Relajarse is a reflexive verb, which means you must use reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) when conjugating it. For example, the first-person singular present tense is me relajo (I wind down) and the third-person singular preterite is se relajó (he/she/it wound down).
How do you pronounce it?
/relaxaɾse/
Did you know?
- While relajarse means 'to relax', the word relajación can also refer to the legal process of releasing a prisoner from custody in certain historical Spanish legal contexts.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the act of winding down involves la sobremesa, the custom of staying at the table long after a meal to talk and socialize.
- While you might use 'relajarse' to wind down after work, if you want to say you are 'winding down' a business or a project, you would more likely use the verb 'liquidar'.
Examples in context
- Después de un largo día de trabajo, es importante descansar para recargar energías.After a long day of work, it's important to wind down and recharge.
- Es necesario encontrar momentos para relajarse y disfrutar de la vida.It's necessary to find moments to wind down and enjoy life.
- Es importante tomarse un tiempo para uno mismo y relajarse después de una jornada agotadora.It's important to take some time for yourself and wind down after an exhausting workday.
- Después de todo el estrés del día, necesito desconectar y olvidarme de mis preocupaciones.After all the stress of the day, I need to wind down and forget about my worries.
- Necesito relajarme después del trabajo.I need to wind down after work.
- Escuchar música ayuda a relajarse.Listening to music helps to wind down.
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are talking after a very stressful day at the office.
- ElenaHoy fue un día muy largo, Mateo.Today was a very long day, Mateo.
- MateoTienes razón, Elena. Yo también estoy cansado.You're right, Elena. I'm tired too.
- Elena¿Quieres relajarse viendo una película?Do you want to wind down by watching a movie?
- MateoMe parece una idea excelente.That sounds like an excellent idea.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry relajarse, 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.
