Spanish · Everyday Verbs

"to rest" in Spanish: descansar

descansar

Say it: dehs-kahn-SAHR / dehs-KAHN-sohverb/des.kan.ˈsaɾ/

To rest in Spanish is descansar. Say yo descanso and descansa un poco. Use it after work, travel, or illness.

After travel

Hoy descanso en el hotel.
Today I'm resting at the hotel.
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How to pronounce descansar

Say it

dehs-kahn-SAHR / dehs-KAHN-soh

/des.kan.ˈsaɾ/

dehs-kahn-SAHR. Yo descanso is dehs-KAHN-soh.

"to rest" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
descansarto rest

Infinitive.

yo descansoI rest

Present first person.

descansarest (command) / he rests

Imperative or third person.

día de descansoday off / rest day

Schedule.

necesito descansarI need to rest

Tiredness.

How to use descansar in real life

  1. 1After travel

    Hoy descanso en el hotel.

    Today I'm resting at the hotel.

    Descanso drops yo.

  2. 2Advice

    Descansa un poco antes de salir.

    Rest a bit before going out.

    Descansa command.

  3. 3Work week

    El domingo descanso con mi familia.

    On Sunday I rest with my family.

    Descanso routine.

Mistakes English speakers make with descansar

Incorrect: Yo restar ahora.

Correct: Yo descanso ahora. / Voy a descansar.

Use descansar / descanso, not restar.

Incorrect: Yo descanso de dormir (odd).

Correct: Necesito descansar. / Voy a descansar.

Say necesito descansar for I need rest.

Good to know

Descansa is a kind farewell when someone is tired. Día de descanso means day off. Soft descansar talk sounds caring, not lazy.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Friend looks exhausted

  1. ChatPal

    ¿Descansas un rato?

    Will you rest a while?

  2. You

    Sí. Hoy descanso en casa.

    Yes. Today I'm resting at home.

  3. ChatPal

    Bien. Descansa. Te escribo luego.

    Good. Rest. I'll write later.

  4. You

    Gracias. Apago el teléfono.

    Thanks. I'm turning off the phone.

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"to rest" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to rest" in Spanish

How do I say I rest?

Yo descanso.

Rest a bit?

Descansa un poco.

Day off?

Día de descanso.

How do you pronounce descansar?

dehs-kahn-SAHR, stress on SAHR.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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