ve a lavar los platos
/be a labaɾ los platos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "go wash the dishes" is translated into Spanish as ve a lavar los platos.
This phrase is used as a command to tell someone to clean the plates and cutlery after a meal.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from ve (go), a (to), lavar (to wash) and los platos (the plates).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you can substitute lavar with fregar when referring to washing dishes, such as in the phrase fregar los platos. Additionally, in Spain, platos can be replaced with los cacharros to refer more broadly to all kitchenware.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the informal version, ve is the informal imperative (tú) of the verb ir (to go). To address someone formally, vaya is used instead of ve.
How do you pronounce it?
/be a labaɾ los platos/
Did you know?
- In certain regions, the word platos can be used to refer to the entire meal itself rather than just the physical plates.
- Calling the dishes los cacharros is common in Spain, but be careful, as this word also refers to 'junk' or 'old pots and pans' in many contexts.
- The Spanish verb lavar is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'lave', which is a poetic term for washing.
Examples in context
- Mateo, ve a lavar los platos ahora.Mateo, go wash the dishes now.
- Después de comer, ve a lavar los platos.After eating, go wash the dishes.
- Si terminaste de comer, ve a lavar los platos.If you finished eating, go wash the dishes.
Example conversation
In a kitchen after a family dinner.
- MateoLucía, la cocina está muy sucia.Lucía, the kitchen is very dirty.
- LucíaEstá bien, ¿qué debo hacer?Okay, what should I do?
- MateoVe a lavar los platos, por favor.Go wash the dishes, please.
- LucíaLo haré de inmediato.I will do it immediately.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, lavar, los, ve, CC BY-SA 4.0.
