bésalo
/besalo/from spelling rules
To say "kiss it" in Spanish, you say bésalo.
This phrase is an instruction to press one's lips against a person or an object.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the imperative verb besa (kiss) and the direct object pronoun lo (it/him).
How does it change in a sentence?
The stress is on the first syllable of the verb, and the accent mark on the 'e' is required when attaching the pronoun to the imperative form. If the object being kissed is a feminine noun, the pronoun changes from lo to la, resulting in bésala.
How do you pronounce it?
/besalo/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a social kiss is not a press of the lips but a brush of the cheeks. If you were to actually 'kiss it' on the lips during a greeting, it would be seen as an intimate or romantic gesture.
- While bésalo refers to the act of kissing, the word for a kiss, beso, is also used as a closing in letters and emails. It functions like 'love' or 'sincerely' in English, often appearing as un beso or besos.
- In Spain, the 'social kiss' is often called dos besos (two kisses), but the direction is opposite to what some expect, starting with the right cheek first.
Examples in context
- Bésalo.Kiss it.This sentence is useful for learning how to use the form bésalo.Tatoeba #9776659 by arh, translation #9776656 by shekitten
- Bésalo para que se sienta mejor.Kiss it so he feels better.
- Si es un juguete, bésalo.If it is a toy, kiss it.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are helping a child who is upset.
- ElenaEl niño tiene un raspón en la mano.The boy has a scrape on his hand.
- DanielBésalo para que deje de llorar.Kiss it so he stops crying.
- ElenaEs una buena idea, Daniel.That is a good idea, Daniel.
- Daniel¡Ya se siente mucho mejor!He feels much better now!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
