acuéstate boca arriba
/akwestate boka ariba/from spelling rules
To lie on your back in Spanish is acuéstate boca arriba.
This phrase is used to instruct someone to place their body in a horizontal position with their face and chest facing upward.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase boca arriba literally means mouth up, where boca is mouth and arriba means up or above.
How does it change in a sentence?
The commands are derived from the infinitive verb acostarse. To change the command from the informal acuéstate to the formal acuéstese, you change the verb ending to reflect the usted form.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the phrase boca arriba is used for any object that is face up, not just humans. For example, a card or a coin lying face up is described as being boca arriba.
- The word arriba is a linguistic fossil of the Latin 'ad ripam', which originally referred to being 'at the bank' or 'at the coast'.
- In a medical context, a doctor might use the term decúbito supino instead of boca arriba to tell a patient to lie on their back.
Examples in context
- Por favor, acuéstese boca arriba para que pueda examinarle correctamente.Please lie on your back so I can examine you properly.
- Muy bien, ahora recuéstate boca arriba para comenzar los ejercicios.Great, now lie on your back to start the exercises.
- Acuéstate boca arriba en la camilla.Lie on your back on the stretcher.
- Por favor, acuéstate boca arriba para el examen.Please, lie on your back for the examination.
- Acuéstate boca arriba y relájate.Lie on your back and relax.
Example conversation
A physical therapist is instructing a patient.
- MateoElena, acuéstate boca arriba por favor.Elena, lie on your back please.
- Elena¿Así está bien, Mateo?Is this okay, Mateo?
- MateoSí, mantén esa posición.Yes, keep that position.
- ElenaEstá bien, no me muevo.Okay, I won't move.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arriba, boca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
