Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Relax in Spanish: Relajarse
Relajarse · verb · reh-lah-HAHR-seh
Relax in Spanish is relajarse, a reflexive verb meaning to calm down or unwind.
Relajarse is reh-lah-HAHR-seh, four syllables with stress on HAHR.
Después del trabajo solo quiero relajarme en el sofá.
After work I just want to relax on the couch.
Relax in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for relax, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| relajarse | relax | reh-lah-HAHR-seh | Default, widely understood |
| descansar | relax | when meaning to rest or take it easy |
How Native Speakers Use Relajarse
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Weekend plans
Este fin de semana voy a relajarme en la playa.
This weekend I'm going to relax at the beach.
Discussing leisure plans.
Telling someone to calm down
Relájate, todo va a salir bien.
Relax, everything is going to be fine.
Reassuring someone.
Spa or wellness
Un baño caliente me ayuda a relajarme después de un día largo.
A hot bath helps me relax after a long day.
Self-care routine.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Relajarse
Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
Incorrect: Yo quiero relajar.
Correct: Yo quiero relajarme.
Relajarse is reflexive; you must include the pronoun me, te, se, etc.
Imperative form error
Incorrect: Relajate, por favor.
Correct: Relájate, por favor.
The imperative of relajarse carries an accent mark: relájate, not relajate.
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Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Relajarse used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Relax in Spanish
- How do you say relax in Spanish?
- The reflexive verb relajarse is the standard translation, conjugated as me relajo (I relax), te relajas (you relax), se relaja (he/she relaxes), and so on.
- Is relajar or relajarse correct?
- Relajarse (reflexive) means to relax oneself, while relajar (non-reflexive) means to relax something else, like relajar los músculos (to relax the muscles).
- How do you tell someone to relax in Spanish?
- The informal command is relájate and the formal version is relájese, both carrying an accent mark on the second syllable to maintain correct stress.