What does desafiar mean?
desafiar means to challenge (in a competition) in English. It is a irregular -ar verb.
It can also be used with these related meanings: to defy, to challenge (e.g. parents, a leader, the status quo); to brave.
Spanish verb guide
Desafiar Conjugation in Spanish
Learn desafiar, meaning to challenge (in a competition), through verified forms and contextual examples.
irregular-argerund: desafiandoparticiple: desafiado
Principal forms of desafiar
- Infinitive
- desafiar
- Gerund
- desafiando
- Past participle
- desafiado
Desafiar conjugation table
Compare the present, preterite, imperfect, and future forms. Reflexive pronouns are included where the verb requires them.
| Pronoun | Present | Preterite | Imperfect | Future |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | desafío | desafié | desafiaba | desafiaré |
| tú | desafías | desafiaste | desafiabas | desafiarás |
| él / ella / usted | desafía | desafió | desafiaba | desafiará |
| nosotros/as | desafiamos | desafiamos | desafiábamos | desafiaremos |
| ellos/as / ustedes | desafían | desafiaron | desafiaban | desafiarán |
Pattern notes
- Its forms differ from a fully regular -ar pattern in the present.
Examples with desafiar
Desafié a Tom a una carrera.I challenged Tom to a race.Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Ellos desafiaron las leyes del rey.They defied the laws of the king.Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tom desafió a Mary a una partida de ajedrez.Tom challenged Mary to a game of chess.Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Practice prompts
- Conjugate desafiar for yo in the present.
- Use the preterite form for ella.
- Say the nosotros/as imperfect form.
- Write a short sentence in the future.
Practice desafiar online
Use VerbyGo for a quick conjugation round with instant feedback and accent checking.