siéntate ahora mismo
/sjentate aoɾa mismo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "sit down right now" is translated into Spanish as siéntate ahora mismo.
This phrase is a firm command used to tell someone to take a seat immediately.
Which one should you use?
The form siéntate is used when addressing a single person you know well or are addressing informally, whereas siéntese is used for formal address.
How does it change in a sentence?
To command a group of people to sit down, use the plural form siéntense.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, the command siéntate would be accompanied by a downward palm gesture to indicate the exact spot where one should sit.
- The 17th-century writer Francisco de Quevedo once mocked the word agora as a 'rustic vulgarity'.
- The command siéntate is derived from the verb sentar, which in other contexts can also mean 'to suit' or 'to fit' someone, such as a piece of clothing.
Examples in context
- Siéntese ahora mismo. Tenemos una reunión importante.Sit down right now. We have an important meeting.
- Siéntate de inmediato, vamos a cenar.Sit down right away, we're going to have dinner.
- Por favor, siéntate ahora y cuéntame qué te pasó.Please, sit down now and tell me what happened.
- ¡Siéntate ahora mismo y deja de gritar!Sit down right now and stop screaming!
- ¡Siéntate ahora mismo y deja de jugar!Sit down right now and stop playing!
- Siéntate ahora mismo para poder hablar.Sit down right now so we can talk.
- ¡Siéntate ahora mismo, que estás muy inquieto!Sit down right now, you are being very restless!
Example conversation
A mother is disciplining her son in the living room.
- LucíaAlejandro, siéntate ahora mismo.Alejandro, sit down right now.
- AlejandroPero quiero seguir jugando.But I want to keep playing.
- LucíaNo discutas y hazlo ya.Don't argue and do it now.
- AlejandroEstá bien, ya me senté.Okay, I already sat down.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ahora, mismo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
