acércate
/aθeɾkate/from spelling rules
To say "come closer" in Spanish, you use acércate.
This phrase is used as a request or command for someone to move to a position nearer to the speaker.
Which one should you use?
The form acércate is the informal way to say "come closer". If you want to say "come closer" using different phrasing, you might use Ven más cerca or Acércate aquí.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are addressing a group of people, use the plural form acérquense.
How do you pronounce it?
/aθeɾkate/
Did you know?
- The verb acercar shares a root with cerca, which means 'near' but is also the word for 'fence'. This implies that bringing something 'close' is like bringing it to the boundary of a property.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying acércate might be a precursor to a physical gesture like a kiss on the cheek or a hug, as personal space boundaries are often more fluid than in English-speaking countries.
- The spelling change in the plural acérquense replaces the 'c' with a 'qu'. This is necessary to keep the 'k' sound because a 'c' followed by an 'e' would change the pronunciation to an 's' or 'th' sound.
Examples in context
- Acércate más a mí.Come closer to me.This sentence shows how to use acércate.Tatoeba #657094 by Shishir, translation #30446 by CK
- Acércate para que puedas ver mejor la pantalla.Come closer in order that you may see the screen better.This sentence uses acércate.Tatoeba #5995342 by albrusgher, translation #22597 by Dejo
- Aproxímese, por favor. Necesito que revisemos este documento juntos.Please come closer. I need us to review this document together.
- Ven más cerca. No puedo escucharte con tanto ruido de fondo.Come closer. I can't hear you with all this background noise.
- Acércate un poco para escucharme.Come a little closer to hear me.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are looking at a small photograph in a park.
- AlejandroAcércate, Lucía, que no se ve nada.Come closer, Lucía, because you can't see a thing.
- LucíaEs muy pequeña la foto.The photo is very small.
- AlejandroSí, acércate más para ver los detalles.Yes, come closer to see the details.
- LucíaAhora sí puedo verla bien.Now I can see it well.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
