What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of quiero (I want), acostarme (to lay myself down/to go to bed) and contigo (with you).
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between quiero acostarme contigo and quiero dormir contigo. While quiero dormir contigo literally translates to "I want to sleep with you," it is more ambiguous and can refer to platonic sleeping in the same bed. In contrast, quiero acostarme contigo is more explicitly sexual.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the term coger is used as a highly informal term for sexual activity.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase quiero acostarme contigo, the reflexive pronoun me is attached to the end of the infinitive acostar to indicate the subject is performing the action on themselves.
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾo akostaɾme kontiɡo/
Did you know?
- Unlike English, which uses 'sleep with' as a common euphemism, Spanish speakers often use the verb echar un palo in very informal settings to describe the same act.
- The word contigo is a linguistic fossil that hides its origins in a repetitive structure, as it evolved from the Latin 'cum tecum' which literally translates to 'with you with'.
- While acostarse is the standard way to say 'to go to bed', in some contexts it is used as a euphemism for 'to die', referring to the final sleep.
Examples in context
- Quiero acostarme contigo ahora.I want to sleep with you now.
- Te lo digo de verdad, quiero acostarme contigo.I am telling you truly, I want to sleep with you.
- No puedo evitarlo, quiero acostarme contigo.I can't help it, I want to sleep with you.
Example conversation
A couple is alone in a quiet apartment late at night.
- MaríaDaniel, quiero acostarme contigo.Daniel, I want to sleep with you.
- DanielMaría, ¿estás segura de lo que dices?María, are you sure about what you are saying?
- MaríaSí, te lo digo muy en serio.Yes, I am telling you very seriously.
- DanielEntonces, yo también quiero estar contigo.Then, I want to be with you too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries contigo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
