cambiar las sábanas
/kambjaɾ las sabanas/from spelling rules
To change the sheets in Spanish is cambiar las sábanas.
The phrase is used to describe the act of replacing dirty linens on a bed with clean ones. If you wish to speak more broadly about changing the bedding, you can use cambiar la ropa de cama.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb cambiar (to change or exchange), the feminine plural definite article las (the) and the noun sábanas (sheets).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico or Argentina, people might use the phrase cambiar la cama to refer to changing the sheets.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb cambiar changes depending on the subject and tense. For example, to say 'I change the sheets', you use the first-person singular present tense cambio las sábanas. To say 'he/she changed the sheets' in the past tense, use the third-person singular preterite form cambió las sábanas.
Did you know?
- The word cambiar likely traces its roots back to a Gaulish origin, rather than pure Latin. This makes the verb a distant linguistic relative of many words found in the ancient Celtic languages of Europe.
- The word sábana can also refer to a large, single-page document or a broad list of data, such as a sábana de datos in business or administration.
- While cambiar means 'to change', it is also the standard verb used in Spanish for 'exchanging' money at a currency office, known as a casa de cambio.
Examples in context
- María levantó el colchón para cambiar las sábanas.Mary raised the mattress in order to change the sheets.This sentence shows the phrase cambiar las sábanas used in the context of lifting a mattress.Tatoeba #2469369 by marcelostockle, translation #681839 by Source_VOA
- Hay que cambiar la ropa de cama porque está sucia.We need to change the bedding because it's dirty.
- Voy a cambiar las sábanas de la cama ahora.I am going to change the sheets on the bed now.
- Es necesario cambiar las sábanas cada semana.It is necessary to change the sheets every week.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are cleaning the bedroom.
- SofíaDaniel, ¿ya cambiaste las sábanas?Daniel, did you already change the sheets?
- DanielNo, no he tenido tiempo.No, I haven't had time.
- SofíaEs necesario cambiar las sábanas ahora.It is necessary to change the sheets now.
- DanielEstá bien, lo haré ahora mismo.Okay, I will do it right now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cambiar, las, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
