déjame comerte
/dexame komeɾte/from spelling rules
The English phrase "let me eat you" is translated into Spanish as déjame comerte.
This phrase is an expression of "cute aggression," typically directed at babies, small children or pets when you find them irresistibly cute. While the literal meaning sounds aggressive, in this specific context, it is used as a term of endearment and is not intended to be threatening.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative déjame (let me) and the infinitive comerte (to eat you).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the verb morfar is used to mean "to eat."
How does it change in a sentence?
The object pronoun te is attached to the end of the infinitive comer to indicate the person being "eaten".
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase déjame comerte is often accompanied by the gesture of kissing a baby's cheeks, arms or tummy rapidly, mimicking the action of eating.
- Spanish speakers may use the verb morder (to bite) in similar contexts, such as te voy a morder, to express the same feeling of irresistible cuteness.
- While déjame comerte is used for cuteness, the phrase me lo como (I'll eat it/him/her) is frequently used as a standalone exclamation when seeing a cute baby, even if the speaker is not talking to the baby.
Examples in context
- ¡Ay, qué bebé tan lindo, déjame comerte!Oh, what a cute baby, let me eat you!
- ¡Ven aquí, pequeño, déjame comerte a besos!Come here, little one, let me eat you with kisses!
Example conversation
Elena is playing with Daniel's baby nephew.
- Elena¡Ay, mira qué cosita más bella!Oh, look at this beautiful little thing!
- DanielSe parece mucho a mí, ¿verdad?He looks a lot like me, right?
- ElenaEs irresistible, ¡déjame comerte, pequeño!He is irresistible, let me eat you, little one!
- DanielMe hace mucha gracia que digas eso.It makes me laugh that you say that.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
