desquitarse (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

The word "desquitarse" is a verb.

Phonetic Transcription

/desˈkit̪aɾse/

Translation Options into English

• To take revenge
• To get even
• To settle a score

Meaning and Usage

"Desquitarse" is a reflexive verb in Spanish that means to take revenge or to seek retribution, typically in response to a perceived wrong. The term is often used in informal contexts where individuals feel the need to balance an unfair situation or to retaliate against someone who has harmed them.

The frequency of use for "desquitarse" is moderate. It appears more commonly in oral speech than in formal written contexts, often in conversations related to personal relationships or disputes.

Example Sentences

• Ella decidió desquitarse con su compañero de trabajo después de que él le habló mal.
  (She decided to take revenge on her coworker after he spoke poorly to her.)

• No es sano desquitarse; lo mejor es perdonar y seguir adelante.
  (It is not healthy to seek revenge; the best thing is to forgive and move on.)

• Él quiere desquitarse por la broma que le hicieron en la fiesta.
  (He wants to get even for the joke they played on him at the party.)

Idiomatic Expressions

"Desquitarse" is often used in idiomatic expressions related to revenge, fairness, and reciprocity in various contexts.

Example Sentences with Idiomatic Expressions

• No te preocupes, yo me desquitaré más adelante.
  (Don’t worry, I will get even later.)

• Siempre hay que hacer las cosas bien, así no tendrás que desquitarte nunca.
  (You always have to do things right, so you won't ever have to take revenge.)

• Esa pelea fue sólo un juego, no había necesidad de desquitarse.
  (That fight was just a game, there was no need to seek revenge.)

• Desquitarse de manera justa solo perpetúa el ciclo de venganza.
  (Taking revenge in a fair manner only perpetuates the cycle of retribution.)

Etymology

The word "desquitarse" derives from the prefix "des-" which can indicate a reversal or negation, combined with "quitar," which means to take away or to remove. Thus, "desquitarse" can be understood as the action of removing a debt in a figurative sense through revenge.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Vengarse (to take revenge) - Retribuir (to retaliate) - Compensar (to compensate)

Antonyms: - Perdonar (to forgive) - Ignorar (to ignore) - Reconciliar (to reconcile)