The Present Tense of regatear is used to describe the action of bargaining or haggling over prices in the present moment. For example, Yo regateó con el vendedor por un mejor precio. (I bargain with the vendor for a better price.)

Regatear is a regular -ar verb, which means it follows the typical conjugation pattern for verbs ending in -ar in the present tense.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Regatear (to bargain) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

Regatear generally means to haggle or bargain, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

To haggle or bargain: For example, Yo regateó con el vendedor por el precio de la alfombra. (I haggle with the vendor over the price of the rug.)

To argue or dispute: For example, Ellos regatean sobre quién pagará la cuenta. (They argue about who will pay the bill.)

To quibble or nitpick (colloquial): For example, Siempre regateas sobre los detalles más insignificantes. (You always quibble over the most insignificant details.)

To be stingy or tight with money (rude): For example, No seas regatón y paga lo que debes. (Don’t be so stingy and pay what you owe.)

Examples

Examples of Regatear in the Present Tense

Siempre regateo con los vendedores en el mercado para conseguir mejores precios. (I always haggle with the vendors at the market to get better prices.)

Mi hermana regatea con tanta pasión que a veces se pone demasiado intensa. (My sister haggles with so much passion that she sometimes gets too intense.)

¿Tú también regateas cuando compras cosas de segunda mano? (Do you also haggle when buying second-hand items?)

En esta tienda no se puede regatear, los precios son fijos. (You can’t haggle in this store, the prices are fixed.)

Nosotros regateamos con el vendedor de autos usados y logramos bajar el precio. (We haggled with the used car salesman and managed to lower the price.)

Ellos regatean cada vez que compran artesanías en los mercados locales. (They haggle every time they buy handicrafts at local markets.)

En algunas culturas, regatear es una forma de mostrar respeto y habilidad de negociación. (In some cultures, haggling is a way to show respect and negotiation skills.)

Si vas a comprar una alfombra en Marruecos, prepárate para regatear con los vendedores. (If you’re going to buy a rug in Morocco, be prepared to haggle with the vendors.)

Aunque parezca incómodo, regatear es una práctica común en muchos países latinoamericanos. (Although it may seem uncomfortable, haggling is a common practice in many Latin American countries.)

En la feria de pulgas, mi abuela regatea con tanta habilidad que siempre consigue excelentes ofertas. (At the flea market, my grandmother haggles with such skill that she always gets excellent deals.)

Cuando viajas a ciertos destinos, es importante regatear para no pagar de más. (When traveling to certain destinations, it’s important to haggle so you don’t overpay.)

En nuestra cultura, regatear es una forma de interacción social y de demostrar astucia. (In our culture, haggling is a form of social interaction and a way to demonstrate shrewdness.)

Aunque algunos lo consideran grosero, regatear es una práctica común en muchos mercados latinoamericanos. (Although some consider it rude, haggling is a common practice in many Latin American markets.)

Si quieres comprar artesanías auténticas, prepárate para regatear con los artesanos locales. (If you want to buy authentic handicrafts, be prepared to haggle with local artisans.)

En las ferias de antigüedades, los coleccionistas expertos siempre regatean para conseguir mejores precios. (At antique fairs, expert collectors always haggle to get better prices.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Regatear (to bargain) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.