consíguelo tú mismo
/konsiɡelo tu mismo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "get it yourself" is translated into Spanish as consíguelo tú mismo.
This phrase is used to tell someone to obtain something on their own instead of having someone else do it for them.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative verb consigue (get), the object pronoun lo (it) and the emphatic phrase tú mismo (yourself).
Which one should you use?
While consíguelo tú mismo is the standard way to say "get it yourself", you can also say consíguelo tú as a shorter and more direct way to emphasize that the person must do it themselves.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To use this phrase in a formal context when addressing someone as "usted", change the verb to consiga and the pronoun to usted mismo to say consígalo usted mismo.
How do you pronounce it?
/konsiɡelo tu mismo/
Did you know?
- The pronoun tú shares a common ancestor with the archaic English word 'thou'. Both words trace back to the same Proto-Indo-European root used to denote the second person singular.
- While tú is the standard informal 'you' in Spain, in many Latin American countries, the formal usted is used even among family members, changing the phrase to consígalo usted mismo.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, if you use the formal consígalo usted mismo to a friend, it may sound sarcastically polite or even mockingly cold. The formal version is often reserved for professional settings or to create a deliberate social distance.
Examples in context
- No puedo ayudarlo en este momento, por favor, consígalo usted mismoI can't help you at the moment, please get it yourself
- No puedo encontrar mi libro, búscalo tú mismoI can't find my book, get it yourself
- Estoy ocupado ahora, agárralo tú mismoI'm busy right now, get it yourself
- No te lo voy a traer, consíguelo tú mismo.I am not going to bring it to you, get it yourself.
- Si quieres ese libro, consíguelo tú mismo.If you want that book, get it yourself.
- No es mi trabajo, consíguelo tú mismo.It is not my job, get it yourself.
Example conversation
Daniel wants Maria to get him a drink from the kitchen.
- MaríaMaría, ¿puedes traerme un vaso de agua?María, can you bring me a glass of water?
- DanielEstoy ocupada ahora, consíguelo tú mismo.I'm busy right now, get it yourself.
- MaríaPero no me quiero levantar del sofá.But I don't want to get up from the sofa.
- DanielDaniel, no soy tu sirvienta.Daniel, I am not your servant.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mismo, tú, CC BY-SA 4.0.
