Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Quítate los pantalones is the informal way to say this. If you are addressing someone formally or showing respect using the 'usted' form, you should use quítese los pantalones. For a more complex way to express the necessity of removing one's pants in a formal context, you can say Es necesario que usted se quite los pantalones. Additionally, the colloquial command ¡Quítate esos pantalones! can be used to say 'take those pants off!'
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the reflexive verb quitarse to indicate that the person is removing the clothing from their own body, which results in the form quítate. Furthermore, in Spanish, items of clothing worn on the body are typically preceded by a definite article rather than a possessive adjective. Therefore, instead of using a word for 'your', you use los pantalones (the pants).
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say quítate tus pantalones by translating 'your' literally. Instead, use the definite article as in quítate los pantalones.
Did you know?
- The word pantalones is a linguistic relative of the English word 'pants', both tracing their roots back to the 'pantalone' character from Italian comedy.
- In some Latin American countries, you might hear quítate el pantalón in the singular, whereas speakers in Spain almost exclusively use the plural los pantalones.
- Because Spanish uses reflexive verbs for clothing, using the verb quitar without the reflexive se would sound like you are asking someone to remove someone else's pants.
Examples in context
- Quítate los pantalones para el examen médico.Take your pants off for the medical exam.
- Si te vas a bañar, quítate los pantalones.If you are going to bathe, take your pants off.
- Quítate los pantalones y ponte el pijama.Take your pants off and put on your pajamas.
Example conversation
A doctor is preparing a female patient for a physical examination.
- DanielLucía, es hora del examen.Lucía, it is time for the exam.
- Lucía¿Tengo que hacer algo ahora?Do I have to do something now?
- DanielSí, quítate los pantalones, por favor.Yes, take your pants off, please.
- LucíaEstá bien, lo haré.Okay, I will do it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
