¿quieres jugar a las traes?
To ask "wanna play tag?" in Spanish, you can use ¿quieres jugar a las traes?
This phrase is a question used to invite someone to participate in a game where one person chases others to touch them.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase las traes literally translates to "you have them", which refers to the "it" status of the person who is currently chasing others in the game.
Which one should you use?
In some Mexican dialects, you might hear the singular form ¿quieres jugar a la traes? instead of the plural las traes.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the phrase las traes is the regional way to refer to the game of tag. In Spain, you might hear the word pillar used instead of traer for the game.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the verb jugar (to play) with the name of a game, you must include the preposition a before the game name, as seen in jugar a las traes.
Did you know?
- Even though jugar is used to mean 'to play', it is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'joke', both stemming from the Latin word 'iocus' meaning 'jest'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, children use the phrase ¡Tú las traes! as a shout to announce that the other person is now 'it'.
- While las traes uses a plural feminine article, it refers to a single status of being 'it' in the game.
Examples in context
- Antes de irnos, ¿quieres jugar a las traes?Before we go, do you want to play tag?
Example conversation
Two children are playing outside in a courtyard.
- MateoSofía, ¿quieres jugar a las traes?Sofía, do you want to play tag?
- Sofía¡Sí, Mateo! ¡Yo empiezo!Yes, Mateo! I'll start!
- Mateo¡Prepárate porque te voy a atrapar!Get ready because I'm going to catch you!
- Sofía¡No puedes alcanzarme!You can't catch me!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, jugar, las, CC BY-SA 4.0.
