What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative ve (go), the preposition a (to), the infinitive limpiar (to clean) and the possessive phrase tu habitación (your room).
Which one should you use?
You might also hear ve a ordenar tu cuarto, which uses ordenar (to tidy/order) instead of limpiar (to clean) and cuarto instead of habitación. Additionally, limpia tu habitación is a shorter, informal way to express the same command.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, a regional variation is vete a recoger tu habitación.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you use the pronominal form vete instead of ve (as in vete a limpiar tu habitación), it adds a sense of "go away" or "get out of here," often used by parents when they are frustrated. Furthermore, vaya a limpiar su habitación uses the formal imperative and possessive to address someone with usted.
How do you pronounce it?
/be a limpjaɾ tu abitaθjon/
Did you know?
- The word limpiar shares a root with the English word 'limpid', which describes a liquid that is completely clear and transparent.
- In some Spanish-speaking households, the command to clean a room is often paired with the phrase está hecho un caos, meaning the room is a total chaos.
Examples in context
- Por favor, vaya a limpiar su habitación antes de que los invitados lleguen.(Please) Go clean your room before the guests arrive.
- ¡Vamos, ve a limpiar tu habitación antes de que lleguen tus amigos!Come on, go clean your room before your friends arrive!
- ¡Ve a limpiar tu habitación ahora mismo!Go clean your room right now!
- Si quieres salir, ve a limpiar tu habitación.If you want to go out, go clean your room.
Example conversation
Lucía is telling Javier to tidy up before dinner.
- LucíaJavier, el cuarto está muy desordenado.Javier, the room is very messy.
- JavierLo haré más tarde, mamá.I will do it later, mom.
- LucíaNo, ve a limpiar tu habitación ya.No, go clean your room now.
- JavierEstá bien, voy.Okay, I'm going.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, habitación, limpiar, tu, ve, CC BY-SA 4.0.
