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invitar

to invite

verb een-bee-TAHR Less Common
Communication Greetings

Origin: From Latin invitare (to invite, entertain).

Also means

to treat (pay for someone)

Usage Note

Invitar means both to extend an invitation (te invito a mi fiesta) and to treat someone by paying for them (yo invito = it's my treat, I'm paying). The second sense is very common in everyday speech and can cause confusion for English speakers who take yo invito to mean only 'I invite'. Invitar a + infinitive also means to prompt or encourage an action (el tiempo invita a salir).

Examples

"Te invito a cenar esta noche."

Natural Translation

I'll treat you to dinner tonight.

Literal Translation

You I-invite to to-dine this night.

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