mandar un beso
/mandaɾ un beso/from spelling rules
To blow a kiss in Spanish, use mandar un beso.
This phrase describes the action of kissing one's hand and blowing toward the recipient. To be more specific about the physical act of blowing a kiss through the air, you can use the phrase mandar un beso volado.
Meaning: kiss one's hand and blow towards the recipient (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mandar un beso literally means to send a kiss.
Which one should you use?
You can use the diminutive form mandar un besito to say 'blow a little kiss'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you may also use lanzar un beso or tirar un beso to mean 'blow a kiss'. In Mexico, mandar un besito is often used in informal settings.
How do you pronounce it?
/mandaɾ un beso/
Did you know?
- The verb mandar in mandar un beso also means 'to order' or 'to command'. This creates a linguistic irony where a gesture of affection uses a word associated with authority.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a besito is not just a 'little kiss' but a common way to show platonic affection or tenderness to children and elderly relatives.
- If you use tirar un beso in Spain, you are using a verb that can also mean 'to pull' or 'to discard', making the kiss sound like something being cast or thrown away.
Examples in context
- Para despedirse, María le mandó un beso a su abuela.To say goodbye, María blew a kiss to her grandmother.
- Antonio le envió un beso a su esposa a través de la pantalla.Antonio blew a kiss to his wife through the screen.
- Juan le echó un beso a su novia antes de salir de casa.Juan blew a kiss to his girlfriend before leaving home.
- Rosa mandó un besito a su mejor amiga desde el otro lado del parque.Rosa blew a little kiss to her best friend from across the park.
- Ella me va a mandar un beso.She is going to blow me a kiss.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beso, mandar, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
