quédate en la cama
/kedate en la kama/from spelling rules
To stay in bed in Spanish is quédate en la cama.
This phrase is used to instruct someone to remain in bed instead of getting up. You can also use the phrase quedarse en la cama to express the general concept of 'to stay in bed' or when using it after another verb.
Which one should you use?
You might also hear No te levantes de la cama (don't get up from bed) or No salgas de la cama to tell someone not to leave the bed.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase quédate en la cama uses the informal imperative (tú), which is used when speaking to a friend, child or family member. The infinitive form quedarse en la cama is used to express the general concept of 'to stay in bed' in a general sense or after another verb.
Did you know?
- The word cama is used in the idiom hacer la cama, which literally means 'to make the bed' but figuratively means to secretly plot against someone to get them fired or removed from a position.
- While quédate en la cama means to stay in bed, the verb quedar also means 'to remain' or 'to be left'. In a romantic context, quedamos is commonly used to mean 'we have a date' or 'we agreed to meet'.
- The word cama may have roots older than the Romans, potentially coming from a pre-Roman or 'Paleo-Hispanic' language of the Iberian Peninsula.
Examples in context
- Si te sientes mal, quédate en la cama.If you feel bad, stay in bed.
- No te levantes, quédate en la cama un rato más.Don't get up, stay in bed a little longer.
- Quédate en la cama y descansa hoy.Stay in bed and rest today.
Example conversation
Sofía is checking on Mateo, who has a fever.
- Sofía¿Cómo te sientes hoy, Mateo?How are you feeling today, Mateo?
- MateoMe duele mucho la cabeza.My head hurts a lot.
- SofíaEntonces quédate en la cama y no te muevas.Then stay in bed and don't move.
- MateoEstá bien, Sofía, gracias.Okay, Sofía, thank you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cama, en, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
