Spanish Conversation · Level 24
88 words
Spanish word
restar
Pronunciation
IPA/resˈtaɾ/
Meaning
- verbsubtract
Example
Si restas dos a cinco, quedan tres.
If you subtract two from five, three remain.
More examples
No le restes importancia a ese detalle.
Don't downplay the importance of that detail.
Core concept
A whole with a taken-away part showing the remainder.
Common phrases
restar importancia
downplay importance
restar puntos
subtract points
restar tiempo
reduce time
Similar words
quitar: Something is taken away so the original item loses that part.
sustraer: A number is taken from another in mathematical contexts to find the difference.
reducir: A measure, amount, or intensity is made smaller.
Definition in Spanish
Quitar una cantidad o una parte de un todo para obtener lo que queda.
Word origin
Spanish restar comes from Latin restare (re- + stare) meaning 'to remain', and it develops the idea of removing part of a whole to leave the remainder.
Usage tips
- Context determines whether restar is arithmetic or figurative: in expressions like restar importancia it reduces significance rather than indicating a numerical operation.