The Spanish verb “Dar” is a verb that you can use in many expressions. “Dar” literally means “to give”. It can also means “to hand”, “to pass” and “to deliver”. But we also use the verb Dar to express an emotion that we are feeling.

For example:

Me da vergüenza hablar en público

The literal translation is : “it gives me shame to talk in public”, but it actually means “I’m embarrassed to speak in public”.

We can use “dar” with any emotion we can feel. And it makes this verb extremely useful to express our feelings and emotions. Here you can see other examples:

  • Me da miedo hablar en público: “it gives me fear to talk in public”
  • Me dan asco las cucarachas: “the cockroachs give revulsion”
  • Me dio alegría la buena noticia: “the good news gives me joy”
  • Me dio pena su enfermedad: “His disease gives me pity/sadness”
  • Esta pulsera me da buena suerte: “This bracelet gives me good luck”

And there are many other expressions with “dar”. Here the most used ones:

dar vueltas a algo: to think something over

dar en el clavo: hit the nail on the head. It means “to guess”

dar qué pensar: to set people thinking, arouse suspicions

qué más da: what differece does it make

dar carta blanca: give a blank cheque

dar de alta: (hospital) be discharged

dar gato por liebre: to cheat