arriesgar

to risk

verb ah-rryehs-GAHR Rare

Usage Note

Arriesgar means to risk or endanger something (arriesgar la vida — to risk one's life). The reflexive arriesgarse means to take a risk or dare (se arriesgó a cruzar — she risked crossing). Note the spelling: the g before -ar becomes gu before -e in forms like arriesgué (first-person preterite) to preserve the hard g sound.

Examples

"Arriesgó todo por salvar a su amigo."

Natural Translation

He risked everything to save his friend.

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