toma asiento
/toma asjento/from spelling rules
To say 'have a seat' in Spanish, you use toma asiento.
Meaning: to sit down (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative form of tomar (to take) and the noun asiento (seat), literally meaning 'take seat'.
Which one should you use?
Toma asiento is slightly more polite and formal than the direct command siéntate (sit down). For a more polite or formal invitation, you can also use the expression siéntese, por favor (please, have a seat).
How does it change in a sentence?
Grammar changes based on who you are talking to: use tome asiento when speaking formally to one person, and use tomen asiento when addressing a group of people.
Did you know?
- In the world of accounting, the word asiento is used to describe a 'journal entry' or the act of recording a financial transaction in a ledger.
- The word asiento is used in engineering and architecture to describe the 'settling' of a building's foundations into the earth.
- The verb tomar is the standard way to say 'to drink' or 'to have a beverage' in Spanish, rather than just 'to take' an object.
Examples in context
- Toma asiento.Have a seat.This sentence demonstrates the use of toma asiento.Tatoeba #1136732 by alexmarcelo, translation #1553500 by CK
- Por favor, toma asiento en la sala de espera.Please, have a seat in the waiting room.
- Toma asiento si quieres descansar un poco.Have a seat if you want to rest a little.
Example conversation
Alejandro welcomes Lucía into his office.
- AlejandroHola, Lucía, pasa por favor.Hello, Lucía, come in please.
- LucíaMuchas gracias, Alejandro.Thank you very much, Alejandro.
- AlejandroToma asiento y cuéntame cómo estás.Have a seat and tell me how you are.
- LucíaEstoy muy bien, gracias por recibirme.I am very well, thank you for receiving me.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
