dame la pata
/dame la pata/from spelling rules
The English phrase "give me your paw" is translated into Spanish as dame la pata.
This phrase is a command used to tell a dog to place its paw in your hand. In these commands, the Spanish word pata refers to the animal's paw.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase dame la pata literally translates to "give me the paw". The word dame is a combination of the imperative verb da (give) and the indirect object pronoun me (to me).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, it is common to use the term zarpa instead of pata for a paw. An informal way to say "Give me your paw" specifically in Spain is Dame tu zarpa.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this context, Spanish uses the definite article la instead of the possessive adjective tu for body parts, which is why the literal translation is "give me the paw".
How do you pronounce it?
/dame la pata/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Luna, dame tu pata para cortar tus uñas.Luna, give me your paw so I can trim your nails.
- ¡Muy bien! Dame la pata.Very good! Give me your paw.
- ¡Dame la pata, Toby!Give me your paw, Toby!
- Si te portas bien, dame la pata.If you behave, give me your paw.
- El perro sabe cuando le digo: dame la pata.The dog knows when I tell him: give me your paw.
Example conversation
Alejandro is training his dog while Elena watches.
- Alejandro¡Dame la pata, pequeño!Give me your paw, little one!
- ElenaEs un perro muy inteligente, Alejandro.He is a very intelligent dog, Alejandro.
- AlejandroSí, y ya me dio la pata.Yes, and he already gave me his paw.
- ElenaLo hace muy rápido.He does it very quickly.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, pata, CC BY-SA 4.0.
