Es solo un regalo.
It's just a gift.
Someone plays down their own gesture so the other person won't feel uncomfortable. Putting solo in front makes the gift sound small.
From Dr. House · Spanish audio
Spanish vocabularyA1 · Beginner
How to say "gift" in Spanish
el regalo
nounmasculineplural: los regalosverb: regalar
"Gift" in Spanish is el regalo, and the verb regalar means to give something as a present: Te regalo este libro. A birthday present is un regalo de cumpleaños, and a Christmas present is un regalo de Navidad.
Hear "regalo" in a real TV scene
A gift played down so nobody feels awkward. The video starts and stops on that line.
Gift phrases for every occasion
Six phrases for buying, wrapping and opening presents.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| un regalo de cumpleaños | a birthday present |
| un regalo de Navidad | a Christmas present |
| envolver un regalo | to wrap a gift |
| abrir los regalos | to open the presents |
| el papel de regalo | wrapping paper |
| la tienda de regalos | gift shop |
Tip: People also say es un regalo about a bargain: A ese precio, es un regalo.
Grammar: el regalo, regalar
Four points, from the noun to the verb.
Masculine, regular plural
el regalo, los regalos. Adjectives follow it and agree: un regalo pequeño, unos regalos caros.Regalar: to give as a gift
Te regalo un libro. I'm giving you a book as a present. It's a regular -ar verb: regalo, regalas, regala.Who it's for: para
Es un regalo para el profesor. The person who receives the gift comes after para.What it's for: de
un regalo de cumpleaños, un regalo de boda. De plus the occasion names the kind of gift.Example sentences
Sentences from the Wordy Spanish course. Tap to listen.
el regalo
the gift
El regalo es una cosa.
The gift is a thing.
Es un regalo de Navidad.
It's a Christmas present.
Tu regalo de cumpleaños.
Your birthday present.
Common mistakes
Mistakes learners make with this word, and how to fix them.
✗un presente (meaning a gift)
✓un regalo
In everyday Spanish a gift is a regalo. Presente usually means the present time.
✗un regalo por ti
✓un regalo para ti
The person who gets the gift takes para.
✗un regalo de navidad
✓un regalo de Navidad
Holiday names such as Navidad start with a capital letter.
Real conversation: is this for me?
A short dialog at home on a birthday. Tap to listen.
Your cousin Carmen comes over on her birthday and spots a box with a bow on your desk.
¡Hola! Quiero esto.
Hi! I want this.
Claro, es un regalo.
Of course, it's a gift.
¡Qué bien! ¿Y esto?
Great! And what's this?
Your turn to answer
In the app you reply in Spanish for the last line.
Continue the conversation in WordyPractice: 3 quick exercises
Free, and you don't need an account.
1 of 3 · Watch and choose
What do you hear in the video?
The other 31 exercises on this topic are in the app.
How to remember it
Regalo sounds like regal. Picture a regal present wrapped in gold paper, fit for a king.
Questions about "gift" in Spanish
How do you say gift in Spanish?
El regalo. A gift for you is un regalo para ti, and several gifts are los regalos.
How do you say "to give a gift" in Spanish?
Use regalar: Le regalo flores a mi madre. Dar un regalo works too.
What's the difference between regalo and don?
Regalo is a present you can wrap. Don is a gift in the sense of a natural talent: Tiene un don para la música.
How do you say birthday present in Spanish?
Un regalo de cumpleaños. To wish someone a happy birthday, say ¡Feliz cumpleaños!
