quítate la ropa
/kitate la ɾopa/from spelling rules
To say 'take off your clothes' in Spanish, use quítate la ropa.
Quítate la ropa is used to instruct someone to remove the garments they are currently wearing. It is an informal way to express this command and is typically used among friends or family.
Which one should you use?
While quítate la ropa is used for a single person in an informal setting, quítese la ropa is the formal version for one person and quítense la ropa is the form used when addressing a group of people.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, when referring to clothing that is being worn, it is natural to use the definite article la (the) instead of the possessive adjective tu (your). To address a group, the plural form quítense la ropa is used.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying quítate tu ropa. English speakers often make this mistake by translating 'your' literally, but you should use the definite article la to sound natural.
Did you know?
- The word ropa originates from the Gothic word raupjan, which meant 'to tear'. It originally described clothing made from torn scraps of fabric.
- While ropa means 'clothes' in Spanish, its Italian relative roba has evolved to mean 'stuff' or 'belongings' in general.
- Depending entirely on the tone, the command quítate la ropa can shift from sounding quite aggressive to being highly erotic.
Examples in context
- ¡Quítate la ropa y recuéstate en la cama!Take off your clothes and lie down on the bed!Tatoeba #1148405 by marcelostockle, translation #1148391 by cntrational
- Quítate la ropa.Take off your clothes.Tatoeba #3666291 by Seael, translation #1946889 by Spamster
- Quítate la ropa para bañarte en la piscina.Take off your clothes to bathe in the pool.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía is helping Javier change for a medical exam.
- LucíaJavier, por favor, quítate la ropa.Javier, please take off your clothes.
- Javier¿Tengo que quitarme todo?Do I have to take everything off?
- LucíaSí, solo deja los zapatos.Yes, just leave your shoes on.
- JavierEstá bien, lo haré ahora.Alright, I'll do it now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, ropa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
