las manos quietas
/las manos kjetas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hands to yourself" can be translated into Spanish as las manos quietas.
The phrase las manos quietas is most commonly used by parents or teachers when disciplining children to prevent them from touching others or objects they shouldn't.
Which one should you use?
While las manos quietas is a standard way to say "hands to yourself," you can also use the shorter, more urgent command ¡Manos quietas! to mean "Hands still!"
Did you know?
- If a person has 'wandering hands' in a predatory or inappropriate way, Spanish speakers describe them as having manos largas, or 'long hands'.
- In a romantic context, saying manos quietas with a smile can turn a disciplinary command into a flirtatious game of tension.
- Although it shares a root with the English word 'quiet', the Spanish word quietas refers to physical stillness rather than a lack of noise.
Examples in context
- Ten las manos quietas.Keep your hands to yourself.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase las manos quietas.Tatoeba #2900107 by cueyayotl, translation #1655911 by Spamster
- Por favor, mantenga las manos quietas durante la presentación.Please keep your hands still during the presentation.
- Oye, no metas las manos donde no debes. Podrías romper algo.Hey, don't put your hands where you shouldn't. You might break something.
- ¿Puedes dejar de toquetear a los demás, por favor?Can you stop touching others, please?
- ¡Las manos quietas, por favor!Hands to yourself, please!
- Él necesita tener las manos quietas.He needs to keep his hands to himself.
Example conversation
A mother is teaching her son how to behave at a museum.
- María¡Las manos quietas, Javier!Hands to yourself, Javier!
- JavierSolo quería tocar la estatua.I only wanted to touch the statue.
- MaríaNo puedes tocar las obras de arte.You cannot touch the artworks.
- JavierEstá bien, mamá, lo siento.Okay, mom, I'm sorry.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
