Take for Granted in Spanish- Linguee | Say It Like A Native

“Take for granted” most often maps to “dar por sentado” in Spanish, with a few close options depending on tone and context.

If you’ve searched this phrase on Linguee, you’ve likely seen several Spanish options and a pile of long example sentences. The hard part isn’t finding a translation. It’s picking one that matches what you mean, then writing it in a way that sounds natural.

English uses “take for granted” in two main ways. One is about assumption: you treat something as true without checking. The other is about appreciation: you treat a person, help, or comfort as if it’ll always be there. Spanish can express both, but it doesn’t always use the same words English does.

What “Take For Granted” Means In Plain English

When you translate an idiom, start with meaning, not with the verb “take.” Dictionaries define the phrase as accepting something as true or normal without thinking, and also as failing to show gratitude or appreciation. You can see those meanings stated clearly in Cambridge’s entry for “take (something) for granted”.

Use this quick split while you write:

• Assumption lane: “I assumed it.” “I expected it.” “I treated it as a given.”
• Appreciation lane: “I didn’t value it.” “I didn’t show gratitude.” “I treated them like they’d never leave.”

Most Reliable Spanish Equivalent: “Dar Por Sentado”

If you want one translation that fits most situations, “dar por sentado” is the safest first pick. It matches “assume” and “treat as a given,” and it can also fit the appreciation lane when the tone is personal.

Collins lists “dar por sentado” as a direct match for the English phrase. Collins’ “dar por sentado” entry also shows how Spanish uses it in real sentences.

These are the frames you’ll use most:

• Doy por sentado que… (I assume that…)
• No des por sentado que… (Don’t assume that…)
• Lo di por sentado. (I assumed it.)
• Te di por sentado. (I took you for granted.)

When you name the thing you assumed, the word “sentado” can agree with it:

• Di por sentado el resultado.
• Di por sentada la fecha.
• Di por sentados los detalles.
• Di por sentadas las reglas.

Take for Granted in Spanish- Linguee Usage Notes

Linguee is useful because it pairs translations with bilingual texts. That’s also where people get burned: they copy a sentence from a formal source and drop it into a casual message. Use Linguee to spot patterns, then write your own line.

Start on Linguee’s “take for granted” translation page, then run three checks before you borrow anything:

1. Lane check: assumption or appreciation?
2. Register check: legal text, corporate copy, or everyday speech?
3. Frame check: keep the structure, swap the nouns and verbs you need.

If an example line feels stiff, shorten everything around the idiom. Keep “dar por sentado,” and rebuild the rest with words you already use.

Other Natural Options And When They Fit Better

Spanish often chooses a direct verb where English uses an idiom. That’s normal. If you translate the meaning cleanly, your Spanish will sound more fluent.

“Asumir” And “Suponer” For Straight Assumptions

When your line is strictly about belief, “asumir” and “suponer” can read smoother than an idiom:

• Asumí que ibas a venir. (I assumed you were coming.)
• Supuse que ya lo sabías. (I supposed you already knew.)

“Dar Por Hecho” For “Take As Given” Tone

“Dar por hecho” leans toward “treat as a fact,” and it’s common in work writing:

• No des por hecho que el plan sigue igual.
• Lo dio por hecho y se equivocó.

Words That Fit The Appreciation Lane

If your goal is emotional clarity, Spanish often says it directly with “valorar” or “apreciar.” SpanishDict shows these options alongside “dar por sentado,” with examples and audio on its “take for granted” entry.

• No valoré tu ayuda. (I didn’t appreciate your help.)
• No aprecié lo que hacías. (I didn’t appreciate what you did.)
• Te di por sentado. (I took you for granted.)

Fast Choice: Match The Sentence Type

When you’re stuck, check what comes after the phrase in English. That shape often tells you the Spanish frame.

Type 1: “Take It For Granted That + Clause”

Spanish usually picks one of these:

• Dar por sentado que…
• Dar por hecho que…
• Asumir que…

Ready-to-adapt lines:

• Doy por sentado que me avisarás.
• No des por hecho que habrá plazas.
• Asumimos que la reunión empieza a las diez.

Type 2: “Take Someone For Granted”

When the object is a person, the idiom can work, but a direct verb can land better in an apology:

• Te di por sentado.
• No te valoré.
• No aprecié lo que hacías.

Type 3: A General Statement

General statements often read best with a soft opener:

• A veces damos por sentado que…
• Mucha gente asume que…
• Es fácil pensar que…

Two Extra Patterns Native Speakers Use A Lot

Spanish has a couple of set frames that show up in news, essays, and everyday talk. Learning them helps you read and write the phrase with less effort.

“Se Puede Dar Por Sentado Que…”

This is the impersonal, “it can be assumed” style. It’s common when the writer wants distance, like in reports or commentary.

• Se puede dar por sentado que habrá cambios. (It can be assumed there will be changes.)
• No se puede dar por sentado que funcione. (You can’t assume it will work.)

Questions And Warnings With “No Des Por Sentado”

Spanish often pairs the phrase with a warning. The English version may sound neutral, but the Spanish warning can carry a gentle “double-check” tone.

• No des por sentado que estoy libre. (Don’t assume I’m free.)
• ¿Por qué das por sentado que dije que sí? (Why are you assuming I said yes?)

A Note On Mood After “Que”

After doy por sentado que, you’ll usually keep the verb in the indicative, since you’re stating what you treat as true: Doy por sentado que vienes. If your sentence shifts into doubt or a request, the mood can shift too, but the core idea stays the same: you’re talking about what you treat as certain.

How To Choose Between Idiom And Plain Verb

If you’re writing Spanish for school or work, you may wonder whether an idiom feels too informal. “Dar por sentado” works across registers, but plain verbs can be cleaner when the sentence is short.

• Use “dar por sentado” when you want the idiomatic feel, or when you’re warning someone not to assume.
• Use “asumir/suponer” when you want a neutral verb that reads smoothly in tight prose.
• Use “no valorar/no apreciar” when the point is feelings, not belief.

A good test: read your Spanish sentence out loud. If it sounds like a direct translation, switch to a plain verb. If it sounds natural, keep it.

Translation Cheat Sheet Table

Use this table as a quick chooser. It’s built around intent and tone, so you can decide fast without forcing one phrase into every sentence.

English Intent	Spanish Option	Where It Fits
Assume something is true	dar por sentado que…	Everyday speech and writing
Assume as a fact	dar por hecho que…	Work writing and reports
Assume (neutral verb)	asumir que…	Clear, direct learner Spanish
Suppose (soft)	suponer que…	When you want a lighter tone
Take someone for granted	dar a alguien por sentado	Direct idiom in personal talk
Not value	no valorar	Apologies and relationship talk
Not appreciate	no apreciar	Warm, direct statements
Jump to a conclusion	presuponer que…	When you want a sharper edge

Common Mistakes And Fixes

These fixes remove the “translated” feel fast.

Mistake: Translating “Take” As “Tomar”

English “take” does not map to Spanish “tomar” here. Use “dar por sentado,” or pick “asumir/suponer.” A line like “tomar por garantizado” tends to sound odd.

Mistake: Copying A Formal Example Word For Word

If your source line looks like legal Spanish, keep the idiom and rewrite the rest. Shorter clauses sound more natural in messages.

Mistake: Missing Agreement In The Noun Version

If you write the noun version, match gender and number: por sentado, por sentada, por sentados, por sentadas.

Mini Practice That Sticks

Try these three, then compare to the suggested Spanish. Aim for meaning first, then sound.

• “I assumed you’d reply today.” → Di por sentado que responderías hoy.
• “Don’t assume it’s free.” → No des por hecho que es gratis.
• “I took your help for granted.” → Di por sentada tu ayuda.

Write-It-Once Templates

Use these as starters, then swap the bracketed part:

• Perdona si di por sentado que [X].
• No demos por hecho que [X]. Lo confirmo y te aviso.
• Te di por sentado y lo siento. No valoré [X].

Second Table: Quick Pick By Context

This second table is the fast chooser when you’re mid-sentence and deciding on tone.

Context	First Pick	Backup
Casual chat	dar por sentado	suponer
Work email	dar por hecho	asumir
Apology	no valoré / no aprecié	te di por sentado
Warning	no des por sentado que…	no des por hecho que…
Essay tone	dar por sentado	presuponer

When A Literal Translation Backfires

Sometimes English uses “take for granted” as a soft criticism. If you translate it with a heavy idiom in Spanish, it can sound harsher than you intended. In those cases, write what you mean: No lo valoraste, no lo tuviste en cuenta, or no pensaste en ello. Those lines can feel calmer, while still being clear.

On the flip side, if English is about assumption in a formal context, “dar por hecho” may read better than “dar por sentado.” Both are correct. The difference is tone, not meaning.

Quick Self-Check Before You Send

• Meaning: assumption or appreciation?
• Shape: “que…” clause, noun phrase, or person as object?
• Tone: casual, work, or emotional?
• Agreement: if a noun is visible, does “sentado/sentada/sentados/sentadas” match?

Once you use these frames a few times, you’ll start choosing the Spanish phrase by feel, not by guesswork.