dame un dólar
/dame un dolaɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "give me a dollar" is translated into Spanish as dame un dólar.
dame un dólar is used to request that someone give the speaker one dollar. If you are asking for the money as a temporary loan, you can use the phrase me prestas to mean "can you lend me". To get someone's attention politely before making your request, you can start with Disculpe (excuse me).
What does it mean word for word?
The word dame is a combination of the imperative verb da (give) and the indirect object pronoun me (to me).
Which one should you use?
While dame un dólar is a direct way to ask, using deme un dólar instead of dame makes the request more polite or formal.
How does it change in a sentence?
dame un dólar uses the informal imperative form. This is used when speaking to someone you know well or someone of equal status.
How do you pronounce it?
/dame un dolaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word dólar has Germanic roots, tracing back to words meaning 'valley' or 'hollow' in ancient languages, which eventually evolved into names for specific coins.
- In many Latin American cultures, speakers add a diminutive to the word, saying dame un dolarcito to make the request sound more affectionate or less demanding.
- Instead of the direct imperative dame, people in several Spanish-speaking regions use the question ¿Tendrás un dólar?, which literally translates to 'Would you have a dollar?'
Examples in context
- ¿Me podría dar un dólar, por favor?Could you give me a dollar, please?
- ¿Sería tan amable de darme un dólar?Would you be so kind as to give me a dollar?
- Disculpe, ¿podría darme un dólar?Excuse me, could you give me a dollar?
- Dame un dólar, por favorGive me a dollar, please
- ¿Me das un dólar, por favor?Can you give me a dollar, please?
- Dame un dólar para el autobús.Give me a dollar for the bus.
- Por favor, dame un dólar.Please, give me a dollar.
- Si tienes cambio, dame un dólar.If you have change, give me a dollar.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are at a street fair.
- DanielElena, dame un dólar.Elena, give me a dollar.
- Elena¿Para qué lo necesitas?What do you need it for?
- DanielPara comprar un helado.To buy an ice cream.
- ElenaEstá bien, toma.Okay, here you go.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dólar, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
