Are "dar" and "regalar" interchangeable?

Question

Are "dar" and "regalar" interchangeable?

Answer 1

In my way of thinking, regalar is only used when talking about giving/receiving gifts. Some examples....

• Yo se la regalé.
• Te lo voy a regalar.
• El hombre le regala joyas a su esposa.
• Regálame una bicicleta, por favor.
• Él le regala una bicicleta a él.
• Regálele el reloj a él.
• Ella le regala el reloj a él.

Answer 2

They are interchangable when used only as, "To give a gift," although Regalar has more of a specific feeling in this case.

For passing some one something, lending, etc, we use Dar.

Dar is also used idiomatically where Regalar is not, ie: "Vamos a dar una vuelta" ..... "Let's take a walk."

Answer 3

The distinction you want to look at here is between getting a present, a gift and being given something.

A birthday present is given to you but it's a present. If I give you something trivial, a pencil, a drink, a piece of paper... it isn't a present/regalo.

Important here is that to give is to offer/proffer to hand something to somebody. "Give me that!" could be a command. A colloquial phrase is "Hand it over"= Give me that".

I'm sure you know this but I'm trying to say, it's the same in Spanish