quédate ahí
/kedate ai/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "stay there" is said as quédate ahí.
The phrase is a command used to tell someone to remain in their current location.
What does it mean word for word?
The word quédate is the imperative form of the reflexive verb quedarse, which literally means "to stay oneself".
Which one should you use?
While ahí means "there" in a location near the listener, the form quédate allí would be used to mean "stay there" in a place that is further away from both the speaker and the listener.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form quédate ahí uses the informal tú command. If you were speaking to someone formally, you would say quédese ahí.
How do you pronounce it?
/kedate ai/
Did you know?
- While quédate ahí is a command, the reflexive form quedarse is also used in the phrase quedarse dormido to describe the act of accidentally falling asleep.
- The verb quedarse can shift from a command to stay to a way of claiming ownership, such as in the phrase me quedo con esto meaning 'I will keep this'.
- The word ahí can be used in a metaphorical sense in some dialects to express surprise or to point out a flaw in an argument, much like an English speaker might say 'there it is' when spotting an error.
Examples in context
- Quédate ahí.Stay there.This sentence is useful for the command quédate ahí.Tatoeba #1767657 by marcelostockle, translation #462476 by lukaszpp
- Quédate ahí y espérame.Stay there and wait for me.This sentence uses quédate ahí to tell someone to wait.Tatoeba #5052482 by alexmarcelo, translation #10546698 by DJ_Saidez
- Si me disculpa, permanezca ahí por favor. Iré a buscar ayuda.If you excuse me, please stay there. I'll go get help.
- Quédese allí hasta que le llame.Stay there until I call you.
- Quédate ahí mientras busco las llaves del auto.Stay there while I look for the car keys.
- No te muevas de ahí, estoy trayendo tu regalo.Don't move from there, I'm bringing your gift.
- Quédate ahí mientras limpio la mesa.Stay there while I clean the table.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are in the kitchen during a renovation.
- Alejandro¡Cuidado con el suelo mojado!Watch out for the wet floor!
- LucíaEstá bien, no me moveré.Okay, I won't move.
- AlejandroEntonces quédate ahí hasta que se seque.Then stay there until it dries.
- LucíaNo te preocupes, Alejandro.Don't worry, Alejandro.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
