Buzz
Wondering how to instruct someone to sit in Spanish, but haven’t cracked open a Spanish textbook in a bit? No worries—we’ve got you covered. In Spanish, there are two verbs you can use to discuss sitting: “sentarse” and “tomar asiento.” We’ll guide you through using these verbs in the imperative form (also known as the command form!), then provide some exercises to reinforce your understanding. Keep reading to level up your language skills with this comprehensive guide on how to say “sit” in Spanish.
Steps
Using “Sentarse” (“To Sit”)
“Siéntate” (see-EN-ta-tay): “Sit!” (informal, singular) “Siéntate” is the informal imperative of this verb, used when addressing a single person (not a group). Use this form when speaking to someone close to you, or someone your age or younger.
- The verb “sentarse” is reflexive, hence the suffixes like “-se” or “-te.” This means that the suffix changes form along with the verb. “Sentarse” is reflexive because it literally means “to seat oneself.”
- Example sentence: “Pedro, siéntate. We have time.”
“Sit Yourself Down” (see-EN-te-say): “Sit!” (formal, singular) Utilize this version of “siéntate” when addressing someone formally. If you wish to show respect, such as to an elder or esteemed individual, this serves as an excellent alternative.
- Note that Spanish speakers generally are relaxed regarding formal versus informal distinctions. Accidentally using the informal form is unlikely to cause offense.
- Example sentence: “Come in and sit yourself down, Madam.”
“Take a Seat, Everyone” (see-EN-ten-say): “Sit!” (informal or formal, plural) Use “Siéntense” when addressing a group. This is the plural command form in Latin America and although it may sound formal in Spain, it remains widely understood.
- Example sentence: “Listen, everybody, sit wherever you’d like.”
“Have a Seat” (see-EN-ta-os): “Sit!” (informal, plural) If you're in Spain, employ this command when addressing a group informally (close friends or individuals your age or younger). In Latin America, there is no formal distinction when addressing multiple people simultaneously.
- Example sentence: “Please have a seat over there, young men.”
Using “Tomar Asiento” (“To Take a Seat”)
“Take a Seat” (TOH-ma as-ee-EN-toh): “Take a seat!” (informal, singular) Employ this expression when instructing a single individual to take a seat. As the informal version, it's best suited for someone familiar or younger.
- This expression breaks down into 2 parts: “tomar,” meaning “to take,” and “asiento,” meaning “seat.”
- Example sentence: “Take off your jacket and take a seat.”
“Take a Seat, Please” (TOH-may as-ee-EN-toh): “Take a seat!” (formal, singular)
This formal option for “toma asiento” is used to convey respect. It's singular, so only employ it when addressing one person.
- Example sentence: “Please, take a seat while you wait.”
“Take a Seat, Everyone” (TOH-men as-ee-EN-toh): “Take a seat!” (informal or formal, plural) Use this command when addressing multiple people formally in Spain, or in Latin America, when addressing multiple people either informally or formally.
- Example sentence: “Come on, guys, have a seat.”
“Take a Seat, Folks” (TOH-mahd as-ee-EN-toh): “Take a seat!” (informal, plural) If you’re in Spain, use this version when speaking to multiple people informally. It’s also acceptable to simply say “Tomen asiento” in Spain, similar to Latin America—you'll be understood either way.
- Example sentence: “Have a seat, I’ll be right with you all.”
Useful Phrases about Sitting
“Would You Like to Sit?” (KYE-res sen-TAR-tay): “Would you like to sit?” This polite question offers someone the chance to rest. It's commonly heard when visiting someone’s home or office.
- For a more formal tone, try “¿Quiere sentarse?” When addressing multiple people, you can say “¿Quieren sentarse?”
- If you prefer using “tomar asiento,” you can say “¿Quieres tomar asiento?” (informal, one person)/“¿Quiere tomar asiento?” (formal, one person)/“¿Quieren tomar asiento?” (informal or formal, multiple people).
“I'm Going to Sit Down.” (voy ah to-MAR as-ee-EN-toh): “I’m going to take a seat.” Use this sentence when discussing sitting in the future tense. It's handy for letting people know your plans or inviting them to join you.
- If you're in a group, you can also say “We’re going to take our seats” or “Let’s take our seats” with “Vamos a tomar asiento.”
- If you prefer using “sentarse,” you can also say “I’m going to sit down” or “We’re going to sit down.”
Talking about Sitting in the Present Tense
Conjugate “sit” in the present tense to form useful, descriptive sentences. Explore various ways to express sitting in the present indicative tense here, allowing you to create your own sentences:
-
Example sentence: “I sit in the cafe.”
Translation: “I’m sitting in the cafe.” -
Example sentence: “If you sit with me, we could dine together.”
Translation: “If you sit with me, we could dine together.” -
Example sentence: “He/she sits here normally.”
Translation: “He/she normally sits here.” -
Example sentence: “We sit together in the airplane.”
Translation: “We sit together in the airplane.” -
Example sentence: “Why don’t you all sit down?” (only used in Spain)
Translation: “Why don’t you all sit down?” -
Example sentence: “All the girls sit there.”
Translation: “All the girls sit there.”
Practice conjugating “take a seat” in the present tense to master other verbs. “Take” is a Spanish verb of the “-ar” type, like “sit,” but without the reflexive ending. Mastering the normal “-ar” conjugation allows you to work with a multitude of other verbs. Here are all the ways to express taking a seat in the present indicative tense:
-
Example sentence: “Do you mind if I take a seat?”
Translation: “Do you mind if I take a seat?” -
Example sentence: “Why don’t you take a seat?”
Translation: “Why don’t you take a seat?” -
Example sentence: “He/she takes a seat on the patio.”
Translation: “He/she takes a seat on the patio.” -
Example sentence: “We take our seats around the table.”
Translation: “We take our seats around the table.” -
Example sentence: “You all sit outside.” (only used in Spain)
Translation: “You all sit outside.” -
Example sentence: “If everyone takes their seats, we’ll be able to get started.”
Translation: “If everyone takes their seats, we’ll be able to get started.”
Tips
-
Just like any Spanish verbs, these ones have various forms. Mastering how to conjugate them in all their tenses can enhance your Spanish skills significantly, so dedicate some time every day to practicing your conjugations.
