descansen

Descansen is the present subjunctive form of the Spanish verb descansar in the third-person plural. It is used in subordinate clauses and in expressions of wish, doubt, or possibility, often following an impersonal or introductory phrase introduced by que. A common everyday example is not as a direct instruction but as a wish or prayer: “Ojalá que descansen,” or in formal or ceremonial language, “Que descansen en paz.”

In the most common conjugation pattern for descansar, the present subjunctive forms are: yo descanse, tú descanses, él descanse, nosotros descansemos, vosotros descanséis, ellos descansen. The form descansen appears specifically in the third-person plural and is used when the subject is ellos, ellas, or ustedes. The related singular forms (descanse, descanses) are used for singular subjects.

Descansen also features prominently in obituaries and memorial language, where the phrase “Que descansen en paz” is used to express a wish that the deceased rest in peace. Beyond religious or ceremonial contexts, the form can appear in literary or formal writing where subordinate clauses express wishes, hopes, or hypothetical outcomes.

Etymologically, descansar comes from des- plus cansar (to tire), indicating the notion of taking a rest from fatigue. Descansen, as part of its verbal paradigm, reflects the standard Spanish pattern for the present subjunctive of -ar verbs.

See also: descansar, descanso, descanso en paz, conjugation of Spanish verbs.