suelta el arma
/swelta el aɾma/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'drop the gun' can be translated into Spanish as suelta el arma.
This phrase is a command telling someone to let go of a weapon they are holding.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase suelta el arma is composed of the imperative suelta (release/let go) and el arma (the weapon).
Which one should you use?
You may also hear tira el arma, which literally means 'throw the weapon'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, the colloquialism Botá el fierro is used to ask someone to drop their gun.
How does it change in a sentence?
Using suelte instead of suelta makes the command formal or respectful. Suelta uses the informal 'tú' conjugation.
Did you know?
- Although arma is a feminine noun, it uses the masculine article el in the singular to avoid a clashing sound with the starting 'a'.
- The English word 'arm' and the Spanish word arma share a common ancestor in the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to join' or 'to fit'. This reflects the idea of equipment or tools being fitted together.
- In high-pressure situations, the choice between suelta and suelte is more than just politeness. Using the formal suelte can create a psychological layer of distance between the speaker and the person holding the weapon.
Examples in context
- ¡Suelta el arma ahora mismo!Drop the gun right now!
- Por favor, suelta el arma y levanta las manos.Please, drop the gun and put your hands up.
Example conversation
A tense standoff in a dark alleyway.
- Daniel¡Suelta el arma!Drop the gun!
- Sofía¡No te acerques, Daniel!Don't come closer, Daniel!
- DanielSofía, por favor, suelta el arma.Sofía, please, drop the gun.
- SofíaEstá bien, lo haré.Okay, I will do it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arma, el, suelta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
