Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Invite in Spanish: Invitar
Invitar · verb · een-bee-TAHR
The Spanish verb 'invitar' means to invite someone to an event, gathering, or activity. It is a regular -ar verb that follows standard conjugation patterns. Notably, 'invitar' in Spanish also carries the meaning of treating someone to a meal or drink, as in 'Yo te invito' (My treat).
Pronounce it een-bee-TAHR, with three syllables and stress on the final syllable. The 'v' in Spanish is pronounced almost identically to 'b.'
Te quiero invitar a mi fiesta de cumpleaños el próximo sábado.
I want to invite you to my birthday party next Saturday.
Invite in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for invite, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| invitar | invite | een-bee-TAHR | Default, widely understood |
| convidar | invite | literary or regional variant used in parts of South America and Spain |
How Native Speakers Use Invitar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Social gathering
Invitamos a todos los vecinos a la barbacoa.
We invited all the neighbors to the barbecue.
Organizing a neighborhood cookout.
Offering to pay
No te preocupes por la cuenta, yo te invito.
Don't worry about the bill, it's my treat.
Insisting on paying for a friend's meal.
Formal invitation
Los directivos invitaron al embajador a la ceremonia inaugural.
The executives invited the ambassador to the opening ceremony.
Sending a formal event invitation.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Invitar
Forgetting the personal a
Incorrect: Invité mi amiga a cenar.
Correct: Invité a mi amiga a cenar.
In Spanish, when the direct object is a person, you must use the personal 'a' before the object: 'invité a mi amiga.'
Misunderstanding 'yo invito'
Incorrect: Yo invito means I am inviting someone to come.
Correct: Yo invito can also mean I am paying or treating.
Context determines whether 'yo invito' means extending an invitation or offering to pay for someone's meal or drink.
Lock in Invite Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Invitar used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using invitar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Te quiero invitar a mi fiesta de cumpleaños el próximo sábado. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Invite in Spanish
- Does 'invitar' always mean to invite?
- Beyond formal invitations, 'invitar' commonly means to treat someone to food or drinks, so '¿Te invito un café?' translates as 'Can I buy you a coffee?'
- How do I say 'invitation' in Spanish?
- The noun form is 'invitación,' a feminine noun that follows the same root, and its plural is 'invitaciones,' commonly seen on party and wedding stationery.
- What is the formal command form of invitar?
- The formal usted command is 'invite,' as in 'Invite a sus colegas a la reunión' (Invite your colleagues to the meeting), following regular -ar verb command patterns.