desafío
nounCEFR B2
What does “desafío” mean in English?
challenge — a major difficulty or problem that demands a response; often at greater scale than reto
challenge — a major difficulty or problem that demands a response; often at greater scale than reto (el desafío demográfico, los desafíos del siglo XXI)
Example sentences
El desafío demográfico que plantea el envejecimiento de la población no tiene solución sin una reforma profunda del sistema de pensiones.
The demographic challenge posed by an ageing population has no solution without a profound reform of the pension system.
Afrontar los desafíos del siglo XXI exigirá de los gobiernos una capacidad de coordinación internacional sin precedentes.
Facing the challenges of the 21st century will require from governments an unprecedented capacity for international coordination.
How to use it
El desafío means 'challenge' — a difficult task, problem, or situation that demands effort, skill, or resources to overcome. It carries a connotation of something thrown down, a gauntlet: the word comes from desafiar (to challenge, to dare). At B2 it is used extensively in journalism, policy, and public discourse: el desafío demográfico, los desafíos del cambio climático, afrontar/abordar/superar un desafío. Its near-synonym reto is slightly more neutral and common in everyday speech; desafío tends to be more rhetorical and implies a test of one's capacity. Both can be used in formal writing, but desafío is the more elevated choice.
Common mistake
Desafío (rhetorical challenge, slightly elevated — implies a gauntlet thrown down) vs reto (neutral challenge — everyday and formal contexts). In an essay, both are fine; in a campaign slogan or speech, desafío has more emotional force. Don't translate 'challenge' as *desafío in informal contexts where reto sounds more natural.