no me toques
/no me tokes/from spelling rules
The phrase "do not touch me" in Spanish is no me toques.
This phrase is a command used to tell someone to stop physical contact with your body.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of no (not), me (me) and toques (the subjunctive form of the verb tocar, meaning to touch).
Which one should you use?
No me toques uses the informal tú conjugation, which is used for friends, children or people you know well.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, one can say No me toques, por favor. In Argentina, one can say No me toquen, por favor.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are addressing someone formally using usted, the verb changes from toques to toque, resulting in no me toque. If you are telling a group of people not to touch you, use the plural form no me toquen.
How do you pronounce it?
/no me tokes/
Did you know?
- The verb tocar is also the standard word for playing a musical instrument. If you say toco la guitarra, you are saying 'I play the guitar' rather than 'I am touching the guitar'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, using the informal no me toques with a stranger might be perceived as a much sharper, more aggressive confrontation than the English 'do not touch me' would suggest.
- The word tocar is used in the common idiom tocar madera, which means 'to knock on wood'. This is used to avoid bad luck after mentioning something positive.
Examples in context
- ¡No me toques! ¡Aléjate!Don't touch me! Get away!
- Por favor, no me toques.Please, do not touch me.
Example conversation
Mateo tries to grab Sofía's arm during a disagreement.
- Sofía¡No me toques!Do not touch me!
- MateoLo siento, Sofía.I am sorry, Sofía.
- SofíaNo quiero que me agarres.I do not want you to grab me.
- MateoEntiendo, no lo haré más.I understand, I won't do it anymore.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
