dame un poco
/dame un poko/from spelling rules
dame un poco is the Spanish way to say "give me some".
This phrase is used to request a small amount of something.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of da (the imperative form of the verb dar, to give), me (to me) and un poco (a little or a bit).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
dame un poco is informal because it uses the tú imperative. If you are making a formal request, you should use déme.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you follow this phrase with a noun, you must add the preposition de after un poco, creating the construction dame un poco de… (give me some of…).
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking for un poco of food from a friend's plate is a common social gesture of trust and intimacy rather than a greedy request.
- The word poco shares a common ancestor with the English word 'few' through the ancient Proto-Indo-European root for 'small' or 'little'.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, adding 'un poquito' instead of 'un poco' can function as a way to sound much more polite or endearing when making a request.
Examples in context
- Dame un poco más.Give me some more.This sentence is useful for asking for a larger amount.Tatoeba #1666842 by marcelostockle, translation #1655498 by gleki
- Dame un poco de tiempo para pensar.Give me some time to think.This sentence shows how to use the phrase when requesting time.Tatoeba #1314184 by Shishir, translation #477372 by BlueLagoon
- Dame un poco de agua, por favor.Give me some water, please.This sentence shows how to use the phrase when requesting water.Tatoeba #628641 by Dejo, translation #250150 by CK
- Disculpe, ¿podría darme un poco de agua, por favor?Excuse me, could you give me some water, please?
- ¿Me puedes dar un poco de tu helado?Can you give me some of your ice cream?
- Échame una cerveza, por favor.Pass me a beer, please.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía is eating a delicious cake and Javier wants to try it.
- JavierDame un poco de ese pastel.Give me some of that cake.
- Lucía¿Quieres más?Do you want more?
- JavierSí, por favor.Yes, please.
- LucíaAquí tienes, Javier.Here you go, Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries poco, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
