ponte las pilas
/ponte las pilas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "cowgirl up" can be translated into Spanish as ponte las pilas.
How does it change in a sentence?
The infinitive form ponerse las pilas describes the general action of getting one's act together.
How do you pronounce it?
/ponte las pilas/
Did you know?
- While 'cowgirl up' implies preparing for a ride or a challenge, ponerse las pilas literally translates to 'to put in one's batteries'.
- While ponte las pilas tells someone to focus, calling someone está pilas in countries like Colombia or Ecuador means they are street-smart and alert.
- The word pilas can also refer to the structural basins or sinks found in a fountain or a bathroom. This creates a confusing double meaning for the word in different contexts.
Example conversation
Lucía is encouraging Javier to study for a difficult exam.
- LucíaJavier, el examen es mañana.Javier, the exam is tomorrow.
- JavierLo sé, pero estoy muy cansado.I know, but I am very tired.
- Lucía¡Ponte las pilas o vas a reprobar!Cowgirl up or you are going to fail!
- JavierEstá bien, voy a estudiar ahora.Alright, I am going to study now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
