Desafío vs. reto
The Spanish words 'desafío' and 'reto' both translate to 'challenge' in English, but they have subtle differences in their usage and connotations.
Desafío
'Desafío' often implies a challenge that must be faced or overcome, especially one that tests strength, skills, or abilities.
Escalar esa montaña fue un gran desafío.
(Climbing that mountain was a great challenge.)
Aceptar el desafío de aprender un nuevo idioma puede ser gratificante.
(Accepting the challenge of learning a new language can be rewarding.)
La empresa enfrentó el desafío de adaptarse a los cambios del mercado.
(The company faced the challenge of adapting to market changes.)
Reto
'Reto' generally refers to a challenge with an emphasis on setting goals or achieving specific objectives. It can also imply competition or tasks designed to test someone.
El reto de completar el maratón en menos de cuatro horas me motiva.
(The challenge of completing the marathon in under four hours motivates me.)
Superar todos los obstáculos del curso fue un gran reto para ella.
(Overcoming all obstacles in the course was a great challenge for her.)
La competencia de matemáticas representó un reto significativo para los estudiantes.
(The math competition represented a significant challenge for the students.)
Summary
Both 'desafío' and 'reto' mean 'challenge', but 'desafío' often implies overcoming difficulties and testing abilities, while 'reto' is more associated with goals, competition, and tasks.