Gift-giving is a universal language of affection and appreciation, and in Spanish, there's a special verb dedicated entirely to this act: regalar. Whether you're celebrating a birthday, expressing gratitude, or simply want to surprise someone special, understanding this verb and its related expressions is essential. Let's explore everything you need to know about regalar!
The verb regalar means "to give something as a gift" or "to gift." It comes from the Latin word regalare, which originally meant "to treat royally." While in English we might say "I gave her a book" without specifying whether it was a gift, Spanish speakers use regalar to make it clear that something was given as a present, not just handed over.
Here's how regalar looks in action:
No me tienes que regalar nada. -No.
You don't have to give me any gift. -No.
Caption 18, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 10 - Part 5
Play Caption
It's important to note that regalar is specifically for giving gifts. If you simply want to say "to give" without the gift-giving context, you'll use the verb dar (to give) instead.
Good news! Regalar is a regular -AR verb, which means it follows the standard conjugation patterns you already know. Let's look at the present tense conjugation:
• Yo regalo (I give as a gift)
• Tú regalas (You give as a gift)
• Él/Ella/Usted regala (He/She gives as a gift / You [formal] give as a gift)
• Nosotros/Nosotras regalamos (We give as a gift)
• Vosotros/Vosotras regaláis (You all give as a gift)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes regalan (They/You all give as a gift)
Before we dive deeper into expressions with regalar, let's build your gift-giving vocabulary:
This is the noun form and the most common word for "gift" in Spanish.
Es un regalo de Navidad.
It's a Christmas present.
Caption 25, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 10 - Part 8
Play Caption
While regalar literally means "to gift," you'll also hear the phrase dar un regalo, which means "to give a gift."
yo quisiera darle el regalo a Paloma.
I'd like to give Paloma her gift.
Caption 51, Tu Voz Estéreo Feliz Navidad - Part 19
Play Caption
Now let's explore some essential phrases and expressions that use the verb regalar:
This is one of the most useful questions when you need gift ideas!
We've all been there! This expression captures that common gift-giving dilemma.
Notice how regalar works beautifully with indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, les) to show who receives the gift.
Let's expand your gift-giving vocabulary even further:
This is a more formal synonym for regalo, often used in professional or formal contexts.
Since gift-giving happens at various times, let's see regalar in different tenses:
Pues, a mi mamá le gustó la bomba que yo le regalé.
Well, my mom liked the balloon I gave her.
Caption 5, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 10 - Part 6
Play Caption
y con lo que mi tía Leonor me regalaba,
and with the things my aunt Leonor gave me,
Caption 62, Biografía Natalia Oreiro - Part 1
Play Caption
A partir de ahora te regalaré mi esencia
From now on, I'll give you my essence,
Caption 57, Silvia nos cuenta El bosque encantado y las emociones mágicas - Part 4
Play Caption
Mis hermanas me han regalado una guitarra Gibson carísima;
My sisters gave me a super expensive Gibson guitar;
Caption 74, Fermín Frases y expresiones - Part 1
Play Caption
That's all for today's lesson on regalar and gift-giving expressions! Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply want to show appreciation, you now have all the vocabulary and expressions you need to talk about giving and receiving gifts in Spanish. Have you ever received or given a memorable gift? We'd love to hear your stories and help you practice using regalar in context!
French
German
Italian
Chinese
English
English 
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Português
