Learning how to say “keep at home” in Spanish can be quite useful when trying to communicate various daily routines, instructions, or precautions. In this guide, we’ll explore both formal and informal ways to express this concept, providing tips, examples, and regional variations where relevant. So let’s dive into it!
Table of Contents
1. Formal Ways to Say “Keep at Home” in Spanish
If you want to convey a more formal tone when instructing someone to keep something at home, you can use the following phrases:
a) “Mantenga en casa”
The phrase “mantenga en casa” is a formal command that means “keep at home.” It is commonly used when giving instructions or guidelines. Here are a couple of examples:
Example 1: Mantenga en casa todos los documentos importantes. (Keep all important documents at home.)
Example 2: Por favor, mantenga en casa a sus hijos hasta que se resuelva el problema. (Please keep your children at home until the issue is resolved.)
b) “Guarde en casa”
The phrase “guarde en casa” is another formal way to express “keep at home.” It emphasizes the act of preserving or safeguarding something. Consider the following examples:
Example 3: Guarde en casa todos los productos perecederos para evitar que se dañen. (Keep all perishable products at home to prevent them from spoiling.)
Example 4: Le rogamos que guarde en casa todos los objetos de valor durante su estadía en el hotel. (We kindly ask you to keep all valuable items at home during your stay at the hotel.)
2. Informal Ways to Say “Keep at Home” in Spanish
If you’re in a less formal setting or talking to someone you’re familiar with, you can use these phrases to convey the idea of “keep at home” more informally:
a) “Deja en casa”
The phrase “deja en casa” is a colloquial way to express “keep at home.” It is commonly used in everyday conversations. Take a look at the following examples:
Example 5: Deja en casa tus problemas y disfruta de las vacaciones. (Leave your problems at home and enjoy your vacation.)
Example 6: ¿Por qué no dejas en casa tus preocupaciones y sales a divertirte un poco? (Why don’t you leave your worries at home and go out and have some fun?)
b) “Quedarse en casa”
The phrase “quedarse en casa” typically means “to stay at home,” but it can also convey the sense of “keeping someone or something at home.” Here are a few examples:
Example 7: Mejor que te quedes en casa y no salgas en este clima tan lluvioso. (It’s better for you to stay at home and not go out in this rainy weather.)
Example 8: Quedémonos en casa hoy para terminar de organizar el proyecto. (Let’s keep ourselves at home today to finish organizing the project.)
3. Practical Tips and Additional Examples
To enhance your understanding of how to say “keep at home” in Spanish, we’ve compiled some practical tips and additional examples:
- Tip 1: When giving instructions, you can use phrases like “Por favor” (Please), “Le sugerimos” (We suggest), or “Le recomendamos” (We recommend) before expressing the command to emphasize politeness.
- Tip 2: To make your instructions more specific, you can include the type of item or object that should be kept at home. For instance, “Mantenga/Guarde/Deja en casa a su mascota” (Keep/Store/Leave your pet at home) or “Mantén/Guarda/Deja en casa los productos químicos” (Keep/Store/Leave the chemicals at home).
- Tip 3: Remember that while the phrases provided are widely used across Spanish-speaking regions, there might be some regional variations depending on local dialects or colloquialisms.
Examples:
Example 9: Por tu seguridad, mantén en casa todos tus objetos de valor. (For your safety, keep all your valuables at home.)
Example 10: Le sugerimos que guarde en casa cualquier alimento que contenga nueces debido a una posible alergia. (We suggest you keep at home any food containing nuts due to a potential allergy.)
Example 11: Deja en casa la llave de repuesto en caso de emergencia. (Leave the spare key at home in case of an emergency.)
By now, you should be equipped with the knowledge of how to say “keep at home” both formally and informally. Remember to adapt your choice of phrase based on the situation and the level of formality required. Practice using these expressions, and you’ll soon incorporate them smoothly into your Spanish conversations. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)
