How to Say “I Give You” in Spanish

Learning how to say basic phrases like “I give you” in Spanish can be incredibly useful for beginner Spanish learners. Being able to express giving and receiving in Spanish allows you to have simple conversations and transactions during your travels or interactions with Spanish speakers.

In this article, we’ll look at the following topics:

• The Spanish phrases for “I give you”
• Conjugating the verb “dar” (to give)
• When to use tú vs. usted
• Example sentences and conversations
• Other useful Spanish giving phrases

The Spanish Phrases for “I Give You”

The most common Spanish phrase for “I give you” is “te doy” when speaking informally. This uses the informal “tú” pronoun for “you”.

Here is the phrase “I give you” conjugated with the verb “dar” (to give) in Spanish:

Yo te doy – I give you (informal)

To say “I give you” more formally in Spanish using the pronoun “usted”. you would say

Yo le doy – I give you (formal)

The main verbs are “dar” (to give) and “doy” (I give) The pronoun (“te” or “le”) changes based on whether you are speaking informally or formally

Conjugating the Verb “Dar” (To Give)

In Spanish, verbs need to be conjugated to match the subject pronoun. Here is the verb “dar” conjugated in the present tense:

Yo doy – I give
Tú das – You (informal) give
Él/Ella da – He/She gives
Nosotros damos – We give
Vosotros dais – You all give (Spain)
Ustedes dan – You all give (Latin America)
Ellos/Ellas dan – They give

As you can see, “doy” is the first person singular conjugation (I give). This is used with “te” or “le” to say “I give you” in Spanish.

The verb ending changes for each subject pronoun: “-o”, “-as”, “-a”, “-amos”, “-áis”, “-an”. Memorizing these endings helps you conjugate verbs correctly.

When to Use Tú vs. Usted

Should you say “te doy” or “le doy” for “I give you” in Spanish? It depends on whether you are speaking informally or formally.

Use “te doy” when:

• Speaking to a friend, family member, or child
• Speaking to a coworker or colleague at work
• Speaking to someone young

Use “le doy” when:

• Meeting someone for the first time
• Speaking to a supervisor, elder, or authority figure
• Wanting to be extra polite and formal

As a general rule, use “tú” for people you know well and would call by their first name. Use “usted” for people you don’t know well or want to show respect to.

Example Sentences and Conversations Using “I Give You”

Here are some examples of using “te doy” and “le doy” in sentences and conversations:

Te doy mi número telefónico. – I’ll give you my phone number.

Le doy las gracias por su ayuda. – I give you thanks for your help.

Camarero: ¿Qué le gustaría para beber? – Waiter: What would you like to drink?
Cliente: Le doy un refresco, por favor. – Customer: I’ll have a soft drink, please.

Amigo: No tengo dinero para el almuerzo. – Friend: I don’t have money for lunch.
Yo: No te preocupes, yo te doy algo de dinero. – Me: Don’t worry, I’ll give you some money.

As you can see, “te doy” and “le doy” can be used to offer help, express gratitude, order at a restaurant, and more. Practice these phrases by creating your own example conversations.

Other Useful Spanish Giving Phrases

Here are some additional Spanish phrases related to giving and receiving:

• ¿Me das…? – Will you give me…?
• Te regalo este libro. – I’m giving you this book as a gift.
• Se lo mando por correo. – I’m sending it to you by mail.
• Me han dado una oferta de trabajo. – They have given me a job offer.
• Ella nos dio comida gratis. – She gave us free food.

Learning how to discuss giving and being given things is a key skill in Spanish. You’ll use it for everything from ordering food to going shopping.

Practice conjugating “dar” in different tenses and with different subjects. Also get comfortable using “te” vs. “le” for informal/formal situations.

So now you know the most common ways to say “I give you” in Spanish! Use this phrase during your next conversation with Spanish speakers.