Tómate tu tiempo
/tomate tu tjempo/from spelling rules
To say "take your time" in Spanish, you say Tómate tu tiempo.
This phrase is used to tell someone that they do not need to hurry.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a combination of the imperative verb toma (take), the reflexive pronoun te (yourself) and the possessive tu tiempo (your time).
Which one should you use?
You can reinforce the message by using No hay prisa, which means "there is no rush".
How does it change in a sentence?
When speaking to someone you address with usted, use Tómese su tiempo instead of Tómate tu tiempo. If you are telling a group of people to take their time, use Tómense su tiempo.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word tiempo can mean both 'time' and 'weather'. This means a phrase about taking one's time shares the same root as saying the weather is nice.
- The verb tomar in this phrase means 'to take', but in many Spanish-speaking countries, it is also the most common way to say 'to drink'.
- While 'take your time' sounds very natural in English, telling someone Tómate tu tiempo in some Spanish-speaking cultures can occasionally sound slightly sarcastic or even dismissive, as if you are telling them to 'go ahead and waste your time'.
Examples in context
- Por favor, tómate tu tiempo.Please take your time.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase in a polite request.Tatoeba #12367303 by Shishir, translation #2891815 by CK
- Tómate tu tiempo, no hay prisa.Take your time. There's no rush.This sentence is useful for reinforcing that there is no rush.Tatoeba #1686937 by Shishir, translation #1655641 by Spamster
- Está bien, tómate tu tiempo, no quiero distraerte de tu trabajo.That's okay, take your time, I don't want to distract you from your work.This sentence is useful for showing that you do not want to cause a distraction.Tatoeba #6073987 by albrusgher, translation #2635145 by Joseph
- El informe es urgente, pero tómese su tiempo para revisarlo adecuadamente.The report is urgent, but take your time to review it properly.
- No tenga prisa, necesitamos que este proyecto esté bien elaborado.Take your time, we need this project to be well-executed.
- No te preocupes, tómate tu tiempo para responder a mi pregunta.Don't worry, take your time to answer my question.
- Sin prisa, cuando termines me avisas.No rush, let me know when you're done.
- Tranquilo/a, no hay prisa.Relax, there's no hurry.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María is choosing a gift in a shop while Javier waits.
- JavierTómate tu tiempo, María.Take your time, María.
- MaríaGracias, no sé qué elegir.Thank you, I don't know what to choose.
- JavierNo te preocupes, yo espero.Don't worry, I'll wait.
- MaríaVale, ya casi lo tengo.Okay, I almost have it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
