tómate un descanso
/tomate un deskanso/from spelling rules
To say "take a break" in Spanish, use tómate un descanso.
The phrase is used to have a short rest period in one's work. Other common ways to express this idea include descansar un poco (to rest a little), parar un rato (to stop for a while) or darse un respiro (to give oneself a break).
Meaning: to have a short rest period in one's work (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, tómate un descanso means "take yourself a rest". It is composed of the imperative verb toma (take), the reflexive pronoun te (yourself) and un descanso (a rest).
Which one should you use?
You might use echarse un descansito to specifically mean "to take a little break" in a colloquial setting. For a more general suggestion to stop what one is doing, parar un rato means "to stop for a while". If you want to suggest a more formal pause, use Hacer una pausa, which means "to take a pause".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes depending on who you are addressing. Use tómese un descanso to use the formal usted form instead of the informal tú form. To address a group of people, use the plural form tómense un descanso.
Did you know?
- The word descanso describes not only a period of time but also a physical architectural feature, such as the landing between two flights of stairs.
- In some regions, like Mexico, you might hear people say echarse un taco as a slang way to mean taking a break to eat, rather than using the word 'descanso'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, taking a break in the afternoon is tied to the siesta, a deep-rooted custom of resting after the midday meal.
Examples in context
- Tómate un descanso.Take a break.This example shows the basic command.Tatoeba #6688866 by arh, translation #2250035 by CK
- ¡Tómate un descanso!"Take a break!This example shows the command used with emphasis.Tatoeba #13812122 by Seael, translation #13376029 by frpzzd
- Por favor, permítame tomarme un descanso de diez minutos.Please, allow me to take a ten-minute break.
- Si me disculpa, necesito descansar un momento.If you'll excuse me, I need to take a break for a moment.
- Voy a echarme un descansito antes de seguir trabajando.I'm going to take a little break before continuing to work.
- ¿Podemos parar un rato? Necesito descansar.Can we stop for a while? I need to take a break.
- Es hora de darme un respiro y relajarme un poco.It's time to give myself a break and relax a little.
- Tómate un descanso si estás cansada.Take a break if you are tired.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are working in a home office.
- MateoParece que llevas mucho tiempo trabajando.It looks like you have been working for a long time.
- SofíaSí, estoy agotada.Yes, I am exhausted.
- MateoTómate un descanso, Sofía.Take a break, Sofía.
- SofíaGracias, Mateo, lo haré ahora.Thanks, Mateo, I will do that now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
