Vosotros Commands
Vosotros commands tell a group of friends what to do (in Spain): drop the -r and add -d (hablad); for "don't", use no + the present subjunctive (no habléis).
The rule at a glance
hablarinfinitive→habla-drop the -r+-dending=¡hablad!speak! (you all)
Negative: no + present subjunctive: no habléis; Spain only: Latin America uses ustedes
Affirmative
hablar → hablad
speak (you all)
Hablad español.
Speak Spanish.
Negative
no habléis
don't speak
No habléis inglés.
Don't speak English.
Reflexive
levantaos
get up
Levantaos temprano.
Get up early.
- The affirmative is always regular: venid, haced, tened. No stem changes.
- The -d disappears before -os: sentaos, not sentados.
Forms
Vosotros commands (the informal plural imperative) give orders, instructions or advice to people you call vosotros: a group of friends, family or classmates. They are used in Spain; Latin America uses ustedes commands instead.
Affirmative
Take the infinitive, drop the final -r and add -d: hablar → hablad. Unlike tú commands, which have eight irregulars, this works for every verb.
The highlighted part is the ending.
| Infinitive | Command | English |
|---|---|---|
| hablar | hablad | speak |
| comer | comed | eat |
| vivir | vivid | live |
| escribir | escribid | write |
| estudiar | estudiad | study |
| abrir | abrid | open |
| venir | venid | come |
Reflexive verbs
With reflexive verbs, attach -os and the final -d disappears: levantad + os → levantaos (not levantados). -ir verbs take an accent on the í: vestíos.
The highlighted part is the pronoun.
| Infinitive | Command | English |
|---|---|---|
| levantarse | levantaos | get up |
| sentarse | sentaos | sit down |
| ponerse | poneos | put on |
| moverse | moveos | move |
| vestirse | vestíos | get dressed |
| irse | idos | go away |
Negative
Put no before the vosotros form of the present subjunctive. With reflexive verbs, os comes before the verb: no os levantéis.
The highlighted part is the ending.
| Infinitive | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| hablar | hablad | no habléis |
| comer | comed | no comáis |
| vivir | vivid | no viváis |
| venir | venid | no vengáis |
| poner | poned | no pongáis |
| levantarse | levantaos | no os levantéis |
When to use it
1. Instructions and directions
Girad a la derecha – Turn right
Seguid todo recto – Go straight ahead
Cruzad la calle – Cross the street
Tomad el metro – Take the metro
2. Advice and suggestions
Comed más verduras – Eat more vegetables
Estudiad todos los días – Study every day
Tened paciencia – Be patient
Sed honestos – Be honest
3. Warnings and prohibitions
No toquéis eso – Don't touch that
No corráis por la casa – Don't run in the house
No seáis tontos – Don't be silly
No lleguéis tarde – Don't arrive late
4. With object pronouns
Object pronouns (lo, la, los, las, me...) attach to affirmative commands but come before negative ones.
Affirmative: Habladlo – Speak it
Affirmative: Comedlas – Eat them
Negative: No lo habléis – Don't speak it
Negative: No las comáis – Don't eat them
Common mistakes
Keeping the -d before -os
Not this (incorrect): Levantados, sentados
But this (correct): Levantaos, sentaos – Get up, sit down. The final -d disappears when you add -os (levantados means "got up", the past participle).
Using the affirmative form with no
Not this (incorrect): No hablad
But this (correct): No habléis – Don't speak. Negative commands use the present subjunctive.
Adding a stem change
Not this (incorrect): Cierrad la puerta. / Vuelved pronto.
But this (correct): Cerrad la puerta. / Volved pronto. – Close the door. / Come back soon. The affirmative vosotros form never changes its stem: just drop the -r and add -d.
Pronoun after a negative command
Not this (incorrect): No decídmelo
But this (correct): No me lo digáis – Don't tell it to me. Pronouns attach to affirmatives (decídmelo) but go before negatives.
The affirmative reflexive with no
Not this (incorrect): No levantaos
But this (correct): No os levantéis – Don't get up. Negative commands use the subjunctive, and os comes before the verb.
Quick check
8 questions1. What's the affirmative vosotros command for 'hablar' (to speak)?
Vosotros affirmative commands: infinitive - r + d = hablad.
2. What's the negative vosotros command for 'comer' (to eat)?
Negative vosotros commands use 'no' + present subjunctive: no comáis.
3. What's the affirmative vosotros command for the reflexive verb 'levantarse' (to get up)?
Reflexive vosotros commands: the command levantad drops its -d before -os = levantaos (idos is the one exception).
4. How do you say 'Don't speak' (negative vosotros command)?
For negative vosotros commands, use 'no' + present subjunctive: no habléis.
5. What's the affirmative vosotros command for 'venir' (to come)?
Vosotros affirmative commands are regular. Drop -r, add -d: venir → venid.
6. Where do you place pronouns with affirmative vosotros commands? (Example: 'Speak it')
Pronouns attach to affirmative commands: Habladlo (one word).
7. What's the negative vosotros command for the reflexive verb 'sentarse' (to sit down)?
For negative reflexive commands, the pronoun goes before the verb: no os sentéis.
8. Which region primarily uses vosotros commands?
Vosotros commands are primarily used in Spain. Latin America uses 'ustedes' instead.
Test your knowledge of Spanish vosotros commands:
Going further
Spain and Latin America, idos or iros, common command phrases and more pairs
Spain and Latin America
In Spain you say Hablad español to a group of friends. In Latin America ustedes covers both formal and informal plural, so the same command is Hablen español.
Idos, iros or marchaos?
The standard command of irse (to leave, go away) is idos, but in speech iros is very common. Many speakers avoid both and say marchaos or just id.
Common command phrases
Venid aquí – Come here
Esperad un momento – Wait a moment
Decidme la verdad – Tell me the truth
Haced los deberes – Do your homework
Salid de ahí – Get out of there
Prestad atención – Pay attention
Tened cuidado – Be careful
Id al médico – Go to the doctor
Cerrad la puerta – Close the door
Affirmative and negative pairs
Hablad español / No habléis inglés – Speak Spanish / Don't speak English
Comed despacio / No comáis rápido – Eat slowly / Don't eat quickly
Venid temprano / No vengáis tarde – Come early / Don't come late
Sed amables / No seáis groseros – Be kind / Don't be rude
Reflexive commands in action
Levantaos temprano / No os levantéis tarde – Get up early / Don't get up late
Sentaos aquí / No os sentéis allí – Sit here / Don't sit there
Vestíos rápido / No os vistáis despacio – Get dressed quickly / Don't dress slowly
Portaos bien / No os portéis mal – Behave well / Don't misbehave