Spanish Phrase
Reduce el riesgo de hacerse daño.
Meaning
Literally, ‘Reduce the risk of hurting yourself.’ It is a safety reminder that encourages someone to take actions that lower the chance of self‑injury.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving health‑ or safety‑related advice, such as in a gym, at work, or while teaching children about safe habits.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Reduceelriesgodehacersedaño
Imperative (tú) of reducir
‘Reduce’ is the affirmative informal command (tú) of the verb ‘reducir’, used to give a direct instruction.
Definite article ‘el’
‘El’ agrees in gender and number with the masculine singular noun ‘riesgo’.
Preposition ‘de’ + infinitive
‘De’ introduces the infinitive phrase that explains what the risk concerns.
Reflexive infinitive ‘hacerse daño’
‘Hacerse’ is the reflexive form of ‘hacer’; together with ‘daño’ it means ‘to hurt oneself’.
🗨In Conversation
Reduce el riesgo de hacerse daño.
Reduce the risk of getting hurt.
¿Qué puedo hacer para evitarlo?
What can I do to avoid it?
✕Common Mistakes
Reduzca el riesgo de hacerse daño.
‘Reduzca’ is the formal command (usted). Use ‘reduce’ for informal (tú) unless you’re speaking formally.
Reduce el riesgo de hacerse dañar.
‘Daño’ is a noun; ‘dañar’ is a verb. The phrase needs the noun ‘daño’ after ‘hacerse’.
Reduce el riesgo de hacerse lesión.
While ‘lesión’ is correct, mixing it with ‘hacerse’ creates an unidiomatic phrase. Use either ‘hacerse daño’ or ‘lesionarse’.
↔Alternatives
Disminuye la probabilidad de lesionarte.
Decrease the probability of injuring yourself.
Minimiza el peligro de lastimarte.
Minimize the danger of hurting yourself.
Evita que te hagas daño.
Avoid hurting yourself.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking contexts the plain imperative can sound quite direct. If you need a softer tone, you can say ‘Podrías reducir el riesgo de hacerte daño’ or ‘Sería bueno que redujeras el riesgo de lesionarte’. The reflexive construction ‘hacerse daño’ is the most common way to talk about self‑injury, while ‘lesionarse’ is a more formal alternative.