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Spanish · Verb · #436 most common

desafiar

to challenge
to defy

Regular-ar ending

In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.

1.

Presente

Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.

yodesafío
desafías
él/elladesafía
nosotrosdesafiamos
vosotrosdesafiáis
ellos/ellasdesafían

Ella desafía a sus amigos a un juego de ajedrez.

She challenges her friends to a game of chess.

Nosotros desafiamos las normas establecidas.

We challenge the established rules.

2.

Pretérito Indefinido

Completed actions at a specific point in the past.

yodesafié
desafiaste
él/elladesafió
nosotrosdesafiamos
vosotrosdesafiasteis
ellos/ellasdesafiaron

El año pasado, él desafió a su profesor en un debate.

Last year, he challenged his teacher in a debate.

Ellas desafiaron a los campeones en la competencia.

They challenged the champions in the competition.

3.

Imperfecto

Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.

yodesafiaba
desafiabas
él/elladesafiaba
nosotrosdesafiábamos
vosotrosdesafiabais
ellos/ellasdesafiaban

Cuando éramos niños, siempre desafiábamos a nuestros vecinos.

When we were kids, we always challenged our neighbors.

Ella desafiaba a su hermano a carreras en el parque.

She used to challenge her brother to races in the park.

4.

Futuro Simple

Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.

yodesafiaré
desafiarás
él/elladesafiará
nosotrosdesafiaremos
vosotrosdesafiaréis
ellos/ellasdesafiarán

Mañana, ellos desafiarán a los mejores jugadores.

Tomorrow, they will challenge the best players.

Yo desafiaré mis propios límites en esta competencia.

I will challenge my own limits in this competition.

5.

Condicional

Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.

yodesafiaría
desafiarías
él/elladesafiaría
nosotrosdesafiaríamos
vosotrosdesafiaríais
ellos/ellasdesafiarían

Si tuviera la oportunidad, ella desafiaría a cualquier experto.

If she had the opportunity, she would challenge any expert.

Nosotros desafiaríamos a los que dicen que no podemos.

We would challenge those who say we can't.

6.

Subjuntivo Presente

Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.

yodesafíe
desafíes
él/elladesafíe
nosotrosdesafiemos
vosotrosdesafiéis
ellos/ellasdesafíen

Es importante que ellos desafíen sus miedos.

It's important that they challenge their fears.

Espero que tú desafíes a tus límites en el próximo evento.

I hope that you challenge your limits in the next event.

7.

Subjuntivo Imperfecto

Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.

yodesafiara
desafiaras
él/elladesafiara
nosotrosdesafiáramos
vosotrosdesafiarais
ellos/ellasdesafiaran

Si yo desafiara a mis amigos, ellos aceptarían.

If I challenged my friends, they would accept.

Si ella desafiara a su jefe, podría obtener una promoción.

If she challenged her boss, she could get a promotion.

"desafiar" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "desafiar" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"desafiar" is a regular -ar verb in Spanish. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for -ar verbs.
How do you conjugate "desafiar" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "desafiar" conjugates as: desafías, desafío, desafían, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "desafiar" in Spanish?
In the Pretérito Indefinido, "desafiar" conjugates as: desafiaste, desafié, desafiaron, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "desafiar" in Spanish?
"desafiar" (to challenge, to defy) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.