tener una cita
/teneɾ una θita/from spelling rules
The phrase 'go out on a date' in Spanish is tener una cita.
In Spanish, you use tener una cita to describe the act of having a social appointment with someone you are romantically interested in. You may also use salir con alguien to express the broader act of dating someone or going out with them.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tener una cita literally translates to 'to have an appointment' or 'to have a date'.
Which one should you use?
The word cita can refer to both a romantic date and a professional appointment, so you must rely on context to distinguish which one is being discussed.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'I am going on a date', you use the present tense tengo una cita (I have a date).
How do you pronounce it?
/teneɾ una θita/
Did you know?
- The word cita is also used to describe a quotation from a text or a cited source in academic writing.
- The word cita shares an ancestral root with the English word 'cite', as both stem from the concept of 'calling' or 'summoning' someone to a specific place.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the word cita is also the standard term for a 'rendezvous' or a meeting between spies or undercover agents.
Examples in context
- Quiero tener una cita con ella.I want to go out on a date with her.
- ¿Quieres tener una cita conmigo mañana?Do you want to go out on a date with me tomorrow?
- Ellos van a tener una cita en el café.They are going to go out on a date at the café.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are talking about their weekend plans.
- DanielMaría, ¿quieres tener una cita conmigo?María, do you want to go on a date with me?
- María¡Sí, me encantaría!Yes, I would love to!
- Daniel¡Genial! Podemos ir al cine.Great! We can go to the cinema.
- MaríaMe parece un plan perfecto.That sounds like a perfect plan.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cita, tener, una, CC BY-SA 4.0.
