¿quieres jugar a las traes?
To say "do you want to play tag" in Spanish, you say ¿quieres jugar a las traes?
This phrase is a question used to ask someone if they would like to play a game of tag.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, ¿quieres jugar a las traes? is a common way to express this. In Spain, the game itself is often referred to as el pilla-pilla.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ¿quieres jugar…?, the verb querer (to want) is conjugated in the second-person singular quieres to address one person informally.
Did you know?
- In some regions, the person who is 'it' is referred to as la mancha, which translates to 'the stain'.
- The word jugar is a linguistic relative of the English word 'joke', both tracing back to the Latin iocus meaning a jest or play.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the person who is 'it' doesn't just touch others but must announce ¡Traes! loudly to confirm the tag.
Examples in context
- Si no estás cansada, ¿quieres jugar a las traes?If you are not tired, do you want to play tag?
Example conversation
Two children are in a playground during the afternoon.
- DanielSofía, ¿quieres jugar a las traes?Sofía, do you want to play tag?
- Sofía¡Sí, Daniel! ¡Vamos!Yes, Daniel! Let's go!
- Daniel¡Tú empiezas!You start!
- Sofía¡No, tú empiezas!No, you start!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, jugar, las, CC BY-SA 4.0.
