reír
Lemma Details
Translation: to laugh; to smile; to chuckle; to giggle
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Reír comes from Latin 'ridēre' meaning 'to laugh'. This Latin root also gave us English words like 'ridiculous' (something that causes laughter) and 'deride' (to laugh at mockingly). The connection between 'reír' and 'ridiculous' can help English speakers remember the meaning.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 40%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
No pude evitar reír cuando vi su disfraz.
I couldn't help laughing when I saw his costume.
Los niños ríen mientras juegan en el parque.
The children laugh while playing in the park.
Me río de mis propios errores.
I laugh at my own mistakes.
Quien ríe último, ríe mejor.
He who laughs last, laughs best.
Mnemonics
- Think of the English word 'ridiculous' which comes from the same Latin root and means something that makes you laugh.
- The 'r' in reír can remind you of the sound of laughter: 'r-r-r'.
- The accent on the 'í' makes your mouth smile when you pronounce it correctly.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
Laughter is universal, but Spanish-speaking cultures often use expressions with 'reír' to show warmth and friendliness. The reflexive form 'reírse de' is commonly used to indicate laughing at someone or something, which can have both playful and mocking connotations depending on context.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'reír' means 'to laugh', 'sonreír' specifically means 'to smile'. 'Sonreír' is a more subtle expression of happiness or amusement without sound, whereas 'reír' typically involves audible laughter.
This word:
Todos rieron a carcajadas durante la comedia.
Everyone laughed out loud during the comedy.
Notes: 'Reír' often requires the reflexive form (reírse) when followed by 'de' to indicate laughing at something or someone.
Mnemonic: 'Son-reír' contains 'son' (sound) + 'reír', but ironically refers to the silent version of laughter - a smile.
Explanation: 'Reír' (to laugh) and 'reñir' (to scold, to quarrel) look similar but have opposite emotional connotations. 'Reír' is associated with joy while 'reñir' is associated with conflict.
Notes: The conjugations can sometimes look similar, adding to the confusion. For example, 'riñe' (he/she scolds) vs. 'ríe' (he/she laughs).
Mnemonic: The 'ñ' in 'reñir' looks like a frown with the tilde, while the 'í' in 'reír' looks more like a smile.