What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "come to the bed".
Which one should you use?
While ven a la cama is the standard informal way to express this, you might also use ven a dormir if you want to specifically suggest the act of sleeping.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The plural forms differ by region. In Spain, use venid a la cama to invite more than one person to bed. In Latin America, use vengan a la cama for the same purpose.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the verb changes depending on who you are addressing and whether you are using formal or informal address. Use venga a la cama for a single person in a formal context, ven a la cama for a single person informally, venid a la cama for multiple people in Spain and vengan a la cama for multiple people in Latin America.
Did you know?
- While ven a la cama invites someone to the bed, the word cama is also used in the phrase hacer la cama to mean making the bed, though in some contexts it can be a slang term for a betrayal.
- The word cama is believed to have originated from a Paleo-Hispanic language before entering Late Latin, making it a linguistic survivor of the ancient peoples of the Iberian Peninsula.
- Although ven a la cama is an invitation, Spanish speakers often use the diminutive camita to make the invitation sound more affectionate or cozy, transforming it into ven a la camita.
Examples in context
- "Querido, ven a la cama." "No, todavía no. Aún debo traducir algunas frases en Tatoeba.""Honey, come to bed." "No, not yet. I still have to translate some sentences on Tatoeba."This example shows how to use ven a la cama in a conversation between partners.Tatoeba #551539 by Leono, translation #551523 by Ooneykcall
- Cariño, ven a la cama para descansar.Honey, come to bed to rest.
- Ya es tarde, ven a la cama.It is late already, come to bed.
Example conversation
A couple is in their bedroom late at night.
- MaríaJavier, ven a la cama ahora.Javier, come to bed now.
- JavierEspera un momento, estoy terminando de leer.Wait a moment, I am finishing reading.
- MaríaTe estaré esperando bajo las mantas.I will be waiting for you under the blankets.
- JavierEstá bien, voy enseguida.Alright, I am coming right now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, cama, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
