¿puedes firmar esto?
The English phrase "can you sign this" is translated into Spanish as ¿puedes firmar esto?
A request for someone to write their signature on a document.
Which one should you use?
The form ¿Puedes firmar esto? uses the informal tú form, while ¿Puede firmar esto? uses the formal usted form. To ask a group of people to sign, you should use the plural form ¿Pueden firmar esto?
How does it change in a sentence?
Use the plural form ¿Pueden firmar esto? if you are asking more than one person to sign the document.
When do people say it?
Officials or clerks often use the phrase Firme aquí, por favor to tell someone to "Sign here, please."
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a signature is often accompanied by a rúbrica, a complex and stylized flourish or scribble. This is used specifically to make the signature harder to forge.
- In formal bureaucracy, you may be asked to firmar y sellar, which means you must provide both a signature and an official ink stamp.
- The word firmar shares its root with the English word 'firm'. In both languages, the act of signing a document was historically seen as a way to make an agreement 'firm' or stable.
Examples in context
- ¿Puedes firmar esto?Can you sign this?This example demonstrates the use of ¿puedes firmar esto?Tatoeba #7946591 by arh, translation #6931184 by Eccles17
- ¡Buenos días! ¿Podría usted firmar este documento, por favor?Good morning! Could you sign this document, please?
- ¡Hola! ¿Puedes firmar esto, por favor?Hello! Can you sign this, please?
- Señor García, le agradecería si pudiera firmar este contrato lo antes posible.Mr. García, I would appreciate it if you could sign this contract as soon as possible.
- ¡Oye, amigo! ¿Me haces el favor de firmar este papelito?Hey, buddy! Can you do me a favor and sign this little paper?
- Es el recibo, ¿puedes firmar esto?It is the receipt, can you sign this?
Example conversation
Maria hands Javier a delivery form at the door.
- MaríaHola Javier, ¿puedes firmar esto?Hi Javier, can you sign this?
- Javier¿Dónde tengo que firmar?Where do I have to sign?
- MaríaFirma justo aquí, por favor.Sign right here, please.
- JavierListo, aquí tienes el papel.Done, here is the paper.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries esto, firmar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
