píntalo
/pintalo/from spelling rules
To say 'paint it' in Spanish, use píntalo.
This phrase is used to apply paint to a specific object.
What does it mean word for word?
The word píntalo is composed of the imperative verb pinta (paint) and the direct object pronoun lo (it, masculine).
Which one should you use?
The form you choose depends on the gender of the object being painted and the number of people you are addressing. Use píntalo for a masculine object and píntala for a feminine object, such as la silla. To address a group of people formally regarding a masculine object, use Píntenlo.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the imperative (command) form, the object pronoun is attached directly to the end of the verb as a single word. If the object being painted is a feminine noun, the pronoun changes from lo to la, resulting in píntala.
How do you pronounce it?
/pintalo/
Did you know?
- The expression pintar algo can be used figuratively to mean that something is likely or 'in the cards'. For example, no pinta bien means 'it doesn't look promising'.
- The word pinta can also serve as a noun to describe a person's physical appearance or 'look'. If someone has a 'buena pinta', it means they look healthy or appear to be a good person, rather than referring to actual paint.
- In many Latin American countries, you might hear people say píntamelo instead of píntalo if they want you to paint it 'for them'. This adds the indirect object pronoun me to the command.
Examples in context
- Señor, por favor, píntelo de azul.Sir, please, paint it blue.
- Señorita, píntela de verde, por favor.Miss, please paint it green.
- Estimados alumnos, píntenlo de colores vibrantes.Dear students, paint it with vibrant colors.
- ¡Píntalo de rojo, se verá genial!Paint it red, it will look great!
- Amigos, vamos a pintarlo de diferentes tonalidades.Friends, let's paint it with different shades.
- Por favor, píntalo de blanco para que combine con el resto de la habitación.Please paint it white to match the rest of the room.
- ¡Amigos, píntala como una obra de arte impresionista!Friends, paint it like an Impressionist masterpiece!
- El banco es viejo, píntalo de azul.The bench is old, paint it blue.
- Si el cuadro está feo, píntalo de nuevo.If the painting is ugly, paint it again.
- Ese juguete está rayado, píntalo.That toy is scratched, paint it.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are discussing a wooden chair.
- MaríaMira esta silla, está muy fea.Look at this chair, it's very ugly.
- MateoTienes razón, podemos arreglarla.You're right, we can fix it.
- MaríaEntonces, píntalo de blanco.Then, paint it white.
- MateoEstá bien, yo lo haré.Alright, I will do it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
