Spanish Commands in Everyday Conversation
Useful phrases, fixed expressions & everyday command chunks
This page focuses on the commands and fixed expressions people actually use in conversation: ven aquí, vete, dime, dame un minuto, ponte cómodo, quédate aquí, date prisa and more. For full formation rules and conjugation tables, use the Spanish Imperatives grammar guide.
Two pages, two different goals
Spanish Imperatives — Grammar & Formation
Use it when you want to learn how to form commands: affirmative and negative forms, tú, usted, ustedes, vosotros, nosotros, pronouns, accents and irregular forms.
Go to the Imperatives grammar guide →This page — Everyday Commands & Fixed Expressions
Use it when you want to learn what people actually say: dime, dame un minuto, date prisa, ponte cómodo, quédate aquí, no te preocupes and other high-frequency command chunks.
1. Quick Grammar Refresher
Only the essentials are summarized here. For complete tú, usted, ustedes, vosotros, nosotros, negative-command and accent rules, see the Spanish Imperatives guide.
Tú (Affirmative)
Use the 3rd-person singular present indicative.
¡Saca la basura!
Usted / Ustedes
Use the present subjunctive for both pos. & neg.
¡Ponga la mesa!
Nosotros (Let's)
Use the present subjunctive to express "let's".
¡Levantémonos temprano!
⚡ 8 Common Irregular Affirmative "Tú" Commands
These highly frequent verbs have irregular affirmative tú forms that are best learned individually. For the pattern behind forms such as ten, pon, sal, ven, di and their negative counterparts, see the Go Verbs & Irregular Tú Commands guide.
🌍 Regional Variations
- Vosotros (Spain): Used for plural informal. (e.g., ¡Hablad!)
- Ustedes (LatAm): Used for ALL plurals (formal and informal).
- Vos (LatAm): Replaces tú in many regions. Drops the 'r' of the infinitive and adds an accent. (e.g., ¡Vení! ¡Comé!)
2. Pronouns in Everyday Commands — Quick Pattern
✅ Affirmative: Attached to the end
Pronouns (reflexive, direct, indirect) glue directly to the end of the verb. Accents are often added to keep original stress.
- Date prisa. (Hurry up)
- Hazlo. (Do it)
❌ Negative: Before the verb
Pronouns must be placed between the "No" and the conjugated verb.
- No te preocupes. (Don't worry)
- No lo hagas. (Don't do it)
Advanced Mechanics: Vosotros vs. Tú
Why is it siéntate but sentaos? For tú, "sentarse" has a stem change (e → ie), so it becomes siénta + te. For regular affirmative vosotros commands, the rule is to drop the final "r" and add "d" (sentad), and the form normally does not stem-change. When adding the reflexive "os", the "d" is dropped to sound smoother: sentad + os → sentaos! (Same with dad + os → daos prisa!)
3. Everyday Command Chunks
| Command | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Saca la basura | Take out the trash | Verb + noun phrase |
| Pon la mesa | Set the table | Household use (irregular pon) |
| Apaga la luz | Turn off the light | Everyday |
| Enciende la televisión | Turn on the TV | Technology |
| Ponte la chaqueta | Put on your jacket | Reflexive pronoun |
| Quítate los zapatos | Take off your shoes | Reflexive pronoun |
| Llévate esto | Take this with you | Verb + pronoun |
| Devuélvelo ahora | Give it back now | Verb + pronoun |
| Tráelo aquí | Bring it here | Verb + pronoun |
| No lo hagas | Don't do it | Negative command |
4. Fixed Command Expressions
English often uses phrasal verbs such as sit down, calm down and hurry up. Spanish commonly expresses similar everyday meanings through reflexive verbs, verb + pronoun combinations and fixed expressions. Learn the whole chunk, not just the verb.
1. Con "Ponerse"
See the broader pattern in the PONER guide.
- Ponte cómodo / serio / atento.
- Ponte de pie / en mi lugar.
- Ponte el cinturón / la chaqueta.
2. Con "Quedarse"
- Quédate aquí / conmigo.
- Quédate tranquilo / quieto.
- Quédate sentado / en casa.
3. Con "Irse"
- Vete a casa / a dormir.
- Vete de aquí / al médico.
- Vete con cuidado. (common, but ve con cuidado is also natural)
4. Con "Dar(se)"
- Date prisa / tiempo.
- Date una oportunidad / un descanso.
- Date cuenta (de eso / de lo que pasa).
5. Con "Preocuparse"
Negative forms are most common:
- No te preocupes.
- No te preocupes por eso / por mí.
- No te preocupes tanto.
6. Calmarse & Relajarse
- Cálmate (un poco / primero).
- Cálmate y escucha.
- Relájate (un poco / y disfruta).
- Relájate, todo saldrá bien.
7. Con "Callarse"
- Cállate (un momento).
- Cállate y escucha.
8. Memoria
- No te olvides (de mí / de llamar).
- Acuérdate (de mí / de comprar pan).
9. Daily Actions
- Apúrate / Date prisa (llegamos tarde).
- Cuídate (mucho / del frío).
- Diviértete (en la fiesta).
- Pórtate bien (como un adulto).
- Anímate (a intentarlo).
- Duérmete (ya / temprano).
No te duermas. - Levántate (ya / despacio).
- Siéntate (aquí / conmigo).
- Vístete (rápido / bien).
5. Commands That Don’t Really Feel Like Orders
Some imperative forms are everyday conversational markers. Their meaning depends on context and tone, so learn them as complete spoken-language chunks.
Mira...
Look / listen / let me explain...
Mira, no sé qué decirte.
Oye...
Hey / listen...
Oye, ¿tienes un minuto?
Pasa.
Come in / go ahead.
Pasa, siéntate.
Venga.
Come on / okay / let’s go, depending on context.
Venga, vamos.
6. 25 High-Value Everyday Command Chunks
These are some of the most useful commands and fixed expressions to recognize in conversation, movies, series and daily life. Learn them as complete chunks rather than isolated verb forms.