vete a la cama
/bete a la kama/from spelling rules
The English phrase "go to bed" is translated into Spanish as vete a la cama.
While it describes the act of going to bed, if you want to focus specifically on the physical act of lying down, you might use acuéstate.
Meaning: to lie down to sleep (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a combination of the reflexive verb irse (to go away or leave) and la cama (the bed), literally meaning "go yourself to the bed".
Which one should you use?
Vete a la cama implies the action of moving toward the bed to sleep. In contrast, acuéstate focuses specifically on the physical act of lying down.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form vete a la cama uses the informal singular imperative (tú) of the reflexive verb irse. To tell a group of people to go to bed, use the plural imperative vayan a la cama.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, you might hear the phrase meterse en la cama to describe the specific act of tucking oneself into the bed covers.
- The word cama may have roots that predate Latin, potentially originating from a Paleo-Hispanic language that existed in the Iberian Peninsula before the Romans arrived.
- Using the phrase vete a la cama can sometimes sound much more forceful or even angry in Spanish than the English 'go to bed' does in a typical household.
Examples in context
- Vete a la cama.Go to bed.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase vete a la cama.Tatoeba #2852370 by marcelostockle, translation #2649250 by CK
- Si estás cansada, vete a la cama.If you are tired, go to bed.This sentence shows how to use vete a la cama in a conditional context.Tatoeba #1068440 by Shishir, translation #30634 by CC
- Me voy a acostar ahoraI'm going to bed now
- Voy a ir a dormir temprano hoyI'm going to go to bed early today
- Me voy a meter en la camaI'm going to get into bed
- Ya es muy tarde, vete a la cama.It is very late, go to bed.
- 1 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A mother is talking to her son at night.
- MaríaAlejandro, apaga la luz.Alejandro, turn off the light.
- AlejandroNo tengo nada de sueño, mamá.I am not sleepy at all, mom.
- MaríaVete a la cama ahora mismo.Go to bed right now.
- AlejandroEstá bien, me 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, cama, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
