dar la pata
/daɾ la pata/from spelling rules
The English phrase "shake a paw" is translated into Spanish as dar la pata.
The phrase dar la pata is used specifically when commanding or describing an animal (like a dog) performing the trick of shaking a paw.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, dar la pata means "to give the paw".
Which one should you use?
While dar la pata is used for animals, dar la mano or dar un apretón de manos is used for humans shaking hands.
How do you pronounce it?
/daɾ la pata/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, calling a person pata can be slang for a 'foot' or even a 'friend', depending on the local dialect.
- In Spanish, pata also refers to the leg of a piece of furniture, like a table or a chair.
- While pata can mean a paw, it is also the common word for a 'duck's foot' in some contexts, stemming from the Arabic word for 'duck'.
Examples in context
- Dame la patita, ¡buen trabajo!Give me your paw, good job!
- Puedes dar la pata, Rex.You can shake a paw, Rex.
- El perro sabe dar la pata.The dog knows how to shake a paw.
- ¡Mira! Mi perro puede dar la pata.Look! My dog can shake a paw.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dar, la, pata, CC BY-SA 4.0.
