{"id":144215,"date":"2023-07-18T08:58:37","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T12:58:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/spanish-dog-commands\/"},"modified":"2025-02-17T11:09:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T16:09:26","slug":"spanish-dog-commands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/spanish-dog-commands\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Common Spanish Dog Commands"},"content":{"rendered":"

I adopted my dog Frodo in Ecuador\u2014he’s a smart, bilingual pup who knows his commands in Spanish and English.\u00a0Through the process of training him in Ecuador<\/a>, I discovered that good Spanish learners and good dog owners have one big thing in common: Daily training is a major priority.<\/p>\n

If you’re a dog owner who’s learning Spanish, you’re in luck.\u00a0You can train your dog and your Spanish skills at the same time.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0S\u00ed <\/em>(Yes)<\/h2>\n

This will mostly be used in conjunction with praise and with tricks performed correctly. Master the sound of this Spanish word and you’ll eliminate one problematic gringo<\/em> mistake<\/a>: pronouncing the Spanish\u00a0i<\/em>\u00a0with a long, flat English\u00a0e\u00a0<\/em>sound, like “see.” Instead, it should be a shorter, sharper sound.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0No<\/em> (No)<\/h2>\n

This is one word that you need to pronounce sharply when you’re speaking to your dog in any language. Spanish makes this easier, because the sound of the Spanish no\u00a0<\/em>is naturally sharper and clearer without our long English o<\/em> sound butting in.<\/p>\n

\u00a03.\u00a0Si\u00e9ntate<\/em> (Sit)<\/h2>\n

It’s a classic for a reason. Sometimes you just need that darn dog to sit down and stay put. It’s also the launching point for a bunch of other dog tricks (sit and stay, sit and lie down).<\/p>\n

This is also an awesome Spanish lesson jam-packed into one tiny, little word that you’ll be using constantly with your pup. It’s a model example of the Spanish command form<\/a> in action, for the reflexive verb sentarse<\/em><\/strong>. Pay attention to the accent mark on the first e\u00a0<\/em>for emphasis, and the personal pronoun\u00a0te<\/em> latched onto the end of the verb.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Arriba <\/em>(Up)<\/h2>\n

This is a good command to have your dog stand up on his hind legs, jump up\u2014or even jump up onto something like a chair.<\/p>\n

It’s also generally a valuable vocabulary word for Spanish beginners, as it means “up” in any context you might want. For example, “I’m looking up” is “estoy mirando hacia arriba<\/strong>,”<\/em> and “he’s upstairs” can be translated as\u00a0“\u00e9l est\u00e1 arriba<\/strong>.”<\/em><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Abajo <\/em>(Down)<\/h2>\n

This one I use to have my dog lie down, but I’ll give you another alternative for this below. This also works to get your dog off the furniture if he’s not allowed on the sofa or bed.<\/p>\n

And of course, it’s also a useful word to learn, meaning both “down” and “below” in Spanish.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Echado \/ \u00c9chate <\/em>(Lie down)<\/h2>\n

Echar\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>is a multipurpose Spanish verb with tons of meaning in different contexts, including: put, place, pour, send, shoot, emit and give.=<\/p>\n

In this case, we see a common usage of the verb in the context of dog training: to mean “lie down.”\u00a0\u00c9chate\u00a0<\/em>is the command form version of the verb, and\u00a0echado\u00a0<\/em>is the past participle<\/a>. Both can be used as commands.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Ven <\/em>(Come)<\/h2>\n

This is the irregular command form of\u00a0venir<\/em><\/strong> (to come).<\/p>\n

Notice how, with this and the other command form verbs above, we’re always using the second person singular form, which is the casual\u00a0t\u00fa\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>form.\u00a0Speaking to your dog definitely qualifies as informal speech.<\/p>\n

Though, in some Spanish-speaking countries, people prefer to use\u00a0Usted\u00a0<\/em>and formal conjugations (third person singular) with dogs. Use whatever comes more naturally to you, depending on whatever regional Spanish you’re learning!<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0Aqu\u00ed \/ Ac\u00e1<\/em> (Here)<\/h2>\n

You can combine these words with\u00a0ven\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>for extra clear and descriptive commands:\u00a0ven aqu\u00ed<\/strong> <\/em>and ven ac\u00e1<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The difference between these two words<\/a> is slight, but\u00a0aqu\u00ed\u00a0<\/em>is more often used to describe an area (aqu\u00ed estoy =<\/em> here I am) while\u00a0ac\u00e1\u00a0<\/em>is more often used to describe an action, as in\u00a0ven ac\u00e1<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Where you are can also influence which word you use:<\/strong> In some countries,\u00a0aqu\u00ed<\/em> is used as a more specific version of\u00a0ac\u00e1<\/em>, though in this case both commands are correct. In addition, ac\u00e1 <\/em>is hardly ever used in Spain and is much more common in South America (for example, you practically never hear\u00a0aqu\u00ed<\/em> in Argentina!).<\/p>\n

You can also use these words on their own with your dog. For instance, when playing fetch, I’ll say “aqu\u00ed!”<\/em> and point to where I want him to drop the ball.<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0Trae <\/em>(Fetch)<\/h2>\n

More fetch vocabulary!<\/p>\n

After you throw the ball and your dog’s collected it, say “trae!”\u00a0<\/em>This is the command form of the verb\u00a0traer<\/em><\/strong>, which means “to bring.”<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0\u00a1Muy Bien!<\/em> (Very Good!)<\/h2>\n

After all this training, you’re going to need this phrase.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind the difference between bien<\/em> and bueno<\/em>. It’s like the difference between “well” and “good” in English.\u00a0You do something well (bien)\u00a0<\/em>and are good (bueno).\u00a0<\/em>This phrase, muy bien<\/em>, expresses that your dog has done something well.<\/p>\n

Buen perro\u00a0<\/em>would be “good dog!”<\/p>\n

11.\u00a0Quieto<\/em> (Stay)<\/h2>\n

Yes,\u00a0quieto\u00a0<\/em>does look like “quiet,” and for good reason. It technically translates to “still,” “calm” or “peaceful.”<\/p>\n

That’s why it works great for “stay” when training your dog. Give this command with the classic, international hand motion for “stop,” palm out and fingers pointing up.<\/p>\n

12.\u00a0R\u00e1pido<\/em> (Fast\/Faster)<\/h2>\n

Is your dog moving too slow? Use\u00a0r\u00e1pido\u00a0<\/em>to get him to pick up the pace.<\/p>\n

13. Suelta (lo\/la) <\/em>(Let go\/Drop it)<\/h2>\n

This command form verb comes from the verb\u00a0soltar\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>which means “let go” or “release.”<\/p>\n

Notice that you can stick a direct object pronoun (lo<\/em> or la)\u00a0<\/em>right after the conjugated verb to talk about whatever your dog is holding that they need to drop. In this case, you’ll need to add an accent for emphasis:\u00a0su\u00e9ltalo<\/strong> <\/em>or\u00a0su\u00e9ltala<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Also, the Spanish version of Disney’s song “Let It Go” is aptly titled\u00a0“Su\u00e9ltalo.”<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

14.\u00a0Vamos<\/em> (Let\u2019s go)<\/h2>\n

Even if you’ve never studied Spanish, you probably already knew this common Spanish word. Use it to keep your dog walking by your side when he wanders off!<\/p>\n

15.\u00a0M\u00edrame<\/em> (Look at me)<\/h2>\n

Is he distracted, sniffing around or staring down a squirrel and silently planning to sprint off?\u00a0This command, given strongly\u2014maybe even with a snap of the fingers\u2014breaks the spell and gets your dog focused on you, ready for your next command.<\/p>\n

It’s the command form of mirar<\/strong><\/em> (to look [at])\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>with\u00a0me\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>(me) added at the end.<\/p>\n

16.\u00a0Sale<\/em> (Out of here)<\/h2>\n

While traveling in Latin America, you’ll hear this everywhere while walking around\u2014it’s the go-to way to say “shoo!” and people are thus always saying “sale!”\u00a0<\/em>to get street dogs away from them, or out of their stores. (Though some countries use another word,\u00a0f<\/em><\/strong>uera<\/strong>,<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>to mean the same thing.)<\/p>\n

Well, people also use this for their own dogs when they’re somewhere they’re not supposed to be. If you want to direct a dog out of your kitchen so he doesn’t eat the chocolate you spilled on the floor, say “sale!”\u00a0<\/em>and gently shoo him out of the room with a wave of your arms.<\/p>\n

17.\u00a0\u00a1No comas!<\/em> (Don\u2019t eat that!)<\/h2>\n

Of course, you can get even more specific to stop your dog from eating something, using the negative command form<\/a> of comer\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>(to eat).<\/p>\n

18.\u00a0Silencio<\/em> (Quiet\/Silence)<\/h2>\n

Stop your dog from barking with this Spanish noun, which sounds just like you’d expect the Spanish version of “silence” to sound.<\/p>\n

19.\u00a0Dame la pata \/ Hola <\/em>(Give me your paw)<\/h2>\n

Aw, now here’s a fun trick! Either be very specific about the action with dame la pata\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(directly translating to “give me your paw”) or be even cuter about it and just say\u00a0hola<\/em> <\/strong>(hello) with your hand extended.<\/p>\n

The latter option is a little more fun\u2014later on, you can tell newcomers to your house to say “hi” to your dog this way, and they’ll get a kick out of the response.<\/p>\n

20.\u00a0\u00a1Perro malo!<\/em> (Bad dog!)<\/h2>\n

Not to end on a negative note, but sometimes you’ll just need to let your pup know he’s done wrong. Here’s the appropriate phrase, which can also be shortened to just malo <\/em><\/strong>(bad).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To better understand how the above terms are used, you can hop online and find some examples of these dog commands in action, being used by native speakers.<\/p>\n

For example, you can search the FluentU<\/a> language program’s video library for video clips using these words.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \"FluentU\r\n

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