tender la cama
/tendeɾ la kama/from spelling rules
To make the bed in Spanish is to say tender la cama.
This phrase is used to describe the act of arranging sheets and blankets on a bed so that it looks neat.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb tender literally means to stretch or to spread out, which refers to the physical action of spreading the sheets or blankets over the mattress.
Which one should you use?
While tender la cama is a common way to express this, hacer la cama is a very frequent alternative used across many Spanish-speaking regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'I made the bed' in the past tense, you would use tendí la cama.
Did you know?
- The word tender is used metaphorically to describe 'spreading' or laying down a bridge or a path, as if one were laying a sheet of fabric across the ground.
- The verb tender is also used for hanging laundry to dry on a line, as both acts involve stretching fabric flat.
- The verb tender in tender la cama shares its ancient roots with the English word 'tension', as both stem from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning to stretch.
Examples in context
- Por favor, haga la cama.Please make the bed.
- ¿Podría hacer la cama, por favor?Could you make the bed, please?
- Haz la cama, por favor.Make the bed, please.
- ¿Puedes hacer la cama, por favor?Can you make the bed, please?
- Un momento, ¿puedes hacer la cama?One moment, can you make the bed?
- Yo te ayudo a hacer la cama.I'll help you make the bed.
- Tengo que tender la cama antes de salir.I have to make the bed before leaving.
- Tienes que tender la cama antes de salir.You have to make the bed before leaving.
Example conversation
In a shared apartment in the morning.
- ElenaMateo, ¿has tendido la cama?Mateo, have you made the bed?
- MateoNo, todavía no la he tendido.No, I haven't made it yet.
- ElenaTender la cama es tu responsabilidad hoy.Making the bed is your responsibility today.
- MateoEstá bien, lo haré ahora mismo.Alright, I will do it right now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cama, la, tender, CC BY-SA 4.0.
