- Form affirmative vosotros commands by replacing infinitive -r with -d
- Create negative vosotros commands using the present subjunctive
- Master reflexive vosotros commands (special -aos, -eos, -íos endings)
- Place pronouns correctly with commands
- Understand when vosotros commands are used (Spain vs Latin America)
- Use commands for instructions, suggestions, and requests to groups
What You'll Learn
Overview
Vosotros commands (also called the informal plural imperative) are used to give orders, instructions, or advice to people you address as "vosotros" (a group of friends, family, or peers). They are primarily used in Spain - Latin America uses "ustedes" commands instead.
AFFIRMATIVE
Hablad español
Speak Spanish (you all)
NEGATIVE
No habléis inglés
Don't speak English (you all)
REFLEXIVE
Levantaos temprano
Get up early (you all)
Regional Note
Vosotros commands are standard in Spain but not used in Latin America, where "ustedes" serves for both formal and informal plural. If you're learning Latin American Spanish, focus on ustedes commands instead.
The good news: affirmative vosotros commands follow a simple, regular pattern. The challenge: remembering the special reflexive forms!
Structure & Formation
Affirmative Vosotros Commands (Regular)
Take the infinitive, drop the final -r, and add -d. This works for all regular verbs!
Infinitive - r + d
hablar → hablad
hablar
hablad
speak
comer
comed
eat
vivir
vivid
live
escribir
escribid
write
estudiar
estudiad
study
abrir
abrid
open
Easy Rule: Unlike tú commands (which have 8 irregulars), vosotros affirmative commands are completely regular! Just drop -r and add -d: venir → venir + d = venid
Reflexive Vosotros Commands
Special Rule: The -d Disappears!
When you attach the reflexive pronoun -os to the affirmative command, the final -d disappears.
Infinitive - r + os
levantar + os → levantaos
(NOT levantad + os)
levantarse
levantaos
get up
sentarse
sentaos
sit down
ponerse
poneos
put on
moverse
moveos
move
irse
idos
go away
vestirse
vestíos
get dressed
Common Mistake
Students often write levantados or sentados. Remember: the -d disappears when you add -os!
Accent Note: For -ir reflexive verbs, add an accent on the í: vestíos, ídos
Negative Vosotros Commands
Formation: Use the Present Subjunctive
Negative vosotros commands use the present subjunctive (vosotros form). Simply add "no" before the present subjunctive form.
no + present subjunctive (vosotros)
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
Remember: For negative commands with reflexive verbs, the pronoun "os" comes before the verb: no os levantéis (not no levantéis os)
Pronoun Placement with Commands
Object pronouns (lo, la, los, las, me, te, etc.) attach to affirmative commands but come before negative commands.
Affirmative: Attach Pronouns
Habladlo
Speak it
Comedlas
Eat them
Negative: Separate Pronouns
No lo habléis
Don't speak it
No las comáis
Don't eat them
Examples
Instructions & 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
Advice & Suggestions
Comed más verduras
Eat more vegetables
Estudiad todos los días
Study every day
Tened paciencia
Be patient
Sed honestos
Be honest
Warnings & Prohibitions
No toquéis eso
Don't touch that
No corráis en la casa
Don't run in the house
No seáis tontos
Don't be silly
No lleguéis tarde
Don't arrive late
Common Vosotros 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
poned atención
pay attention
tened cuidado
be careful
id al médico
go to the doctor
cerrad la puerta
close the door
Affirmative vs Negative Pairs
See how the same verb changes between affirmative and negative commands:
✓ 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
Common reflexive verbs used in vosotros commands:
✓ 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
Common Mistakes
Don't Forget: -d Disappears with -os
The most common mistake with reflexive vosotros commands:
Wrong: levantados, sentados
Correct: levantaos, sentaos (no -d!)
Spain Only!
Vosotros commands are only used in Spain:
Spain: Hablad español
Latin America: Hablen español (ustedes)
Pronouns Change Position
Remember: attached to affirmative, separate for negative:
Affirmative: Decidmelo (Tell it to me)
Negative: No me lo digáis (Don't tell it to me)
Stem Changes Don't Apply!
Unlike other forms, the vosotros imperative doesn't trigger stem changes:
cerrar (e→ie): Cerrad la puerta (not cerried)
volver (o→ue): Volved pronto (not vuelved)
Idos vs Marchaos
"Irse" (to leave/go away) has a tricky command form:
Technically: Idos (rarely used)
Commonly: Marchaos or just Id
Don't Mix Forms
Affirmative and negative use different forms:
Wrong: No hablad
Correct: No habléis (use subjunctive)
Quick Test
Test your knowledge of Spanish vosotros commands:
1. What's the affirmative vosotros command for 'hablar' (to speak)?
2. What's the negative vosotros command for 'comer' (to eat)?
3. What's the affirmative vosotros command for the reflexive verb 'levantarse' (to get up)?
4. How do you say 'Don't speak' (negative vosotros command)?
5. What's the affirmative vosotros command for 'venir' (to come)?
6. Where do you place pronouns with affirmative vosotros commands? (Example: 'Speak it')
7. What's the negative vosotros command for the reflexive verb 'sentarse' (to sit down)?
8. Which region primarily uses vosotros commands?
Want more practice? Try our interactive fill-in-the-blank exercises covering tú, usted, ustedes, and vosotros commands!