enséñame las manos
/enseɲame las manos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "show me your hands" is translated into Spanish as enséñame las manos.
This phrase is used to request that someone hold up or present their hands so that they can be seen.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase enséñame las manos literally translates to "show me the hands".
Which one should you use?
In certain Latin American countries like Mexico and Argentina, the informal muéstrame tus manos is also common.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries such as Mexico and Argentina, muéstrame tus manos is a common informal way to say "show me your hands".
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, when referring to body parts, possessive adjectives like "your" are often replaced by definite articles.
How do you pronounce it?
/enseɲame las manos/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the possessive tus (your) for body parts, such as in enséñame tus manos. It is more natural in Spanish to use the definite article las instead.
Did you know?
- The verb enseñar is used for both 'to show' and 'to teach'. Because of this, the phrase enséñame las manos literally uses the same word one would use to ask someone to 'teach me' something.
- If you use the word tus to refer to someone's hands, it can sound slightly more distant or even accusatory in some contexts, as if the hands are separate objects you possess rather than a part of your own body.
- In a law enforcement context, the command to show hands often shifts to manos arriba, which means 'hands above'.
Examples in context
- Muéstreme sus manos, por favor.Show me your hands, please.
- Enséñame las manos para ver si están limpias.Show me your hands to see if they are clean.
- Enséñame las manos para revisarte las uñas.Show me your hands so I can check your nails.
- ¡Enséñame las manos ahora mismo!Show me your hands right now!
Example conversation
A doctor is examining a patient during a checkup.
- MateoElena, enséñame las manos, por favor.Elena, show me your hands, please.
- Elena¿Necesitas ver algo en especial, Mateo?Do you need to see something in particular, Mateo?
- MateoSolo quiero ver si tienes alguna irritación.I just want to see if you have any irritation.
- ElenaEstá bien, aquí las tienes.Okay, here they are.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
