¿me da una caja?
The English phrase "can I get a box" can be translated into Spanish as ¿me da una caja?
This phrase is commonly used in restaurants or food stalls when asking for a container to take leftovers home.
Which one should you use?
To sound even more polite or indirect, you can use the conditional form: ¿me podría dar una caja?
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are speaking to someone your own age or in a very casual setting, you can use the informal tú form: ¿me das una caja?
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, people use the word táper instead of caja for plastic containers, which comes from the brand name 'Tupperware'.
- In a store or bank, la caja does not refer to a physical box, but to the checkout counter or the cash register.
- The word caja is actually a distant relative of the English word 'case' and 'cash', both of which trace their roots back to the same Latin ancestor, 'capsa'.
Examples in context
- ¿Me podría conseguir una caja, por favor?Could you get me a box, please?
- ¿Podría facilitarme una caja?Could you provide me with a box?
- ¿Me puedes conseguir una caja, por favor?Can you get me a box, please?
- ¿Puedes traerme una caja?Can you bring me a box?
- ¿Podría facilitarme una caja, por favor?Could you provide me with a box, please?
- Sí, por supuesto. Aquí tiene.Yes, of course. Here you go.
- Si no es mucha molestia, ¿me da una caja?If it's not too much trouble, can I get a box?
Example conversation
Daniel is finishing his meal at a restaurant.
- DanielTodo estaba rico, pero quedó mucha comida. ¿Me da una caja?Everything was delicious, but there is a lot of food left. Can I get a box?
- MaríaClaro que sí, Daniel. Ahora mismo se la traigo.Of course, Daniel. I will bring it to you right now.
- DanielMuchas gracias, María.Thank you very much, María.
- MaríaDe nada. Aquí tiene su caja.You're welcome. Here is your box.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caja, me, una, CC BY-SA 4.0.
