arriesgarse (a)
verbCEFR B2
What does “arriesgarse (a)” mean in English?
to venture, to take a risk
to venture, to take a risk (arriesgarse a + infinitive — deliberately take a calculated risk)
Example sentences
La empresa se arriesgó a lanzar el producto antes de tiempo y la jugada le salió bien.
The company risked launching the product early and the gamble paid off.
Pocos inversores se arriesgan a entrar en mercados emergentes sin una estrategia de salida clara.
Few investors risk entering emerging markets without a clear exit strategy.
Se arriesgó con una propuesta poco convencional y logró convencer al comité contra todo pronóstico.
She took a risk with an unconventional proposal and managed to convince the committee against all odds.
How to use it
Arriesgarse (a) means 'to venture', 'to take a risk', or 'to dare'. It is always reflexive: arriesgarse a + infinitive (risk doing something), arriesgarse con (take a risk with). The non-reflexive arriesgar means to risk something: arriesgar el capital (risk the capital). At B2, arriesgarse captures the deliberate acceptance of risk for potential gain. Near-synonyms: aventurarse (venture — more exploratory), atreverse (dare — emphasis on courage), apostar (bet on — commit to a risky outcome).
Common mistake
Arriesgarse (a) (take the risk of doing something) vs. arriesgar (transitive: risk a resource or asset). 'She risked her savings' = arriesgó sus ahorros. 'She risked doing it' = se arriesgó a hacerlo. Don't confuse with poner en riesgo (to put at risk — make something vulnerable, often by someone else's action).