aléjate
ah-LEH-hah-teh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
¡Aléjate de mí! ¡No te acerques!
A2Get away from me! Don't come near!
El guardia gritó: «¡Aléjate del borde, es peligroso!»
B1The guard shouted, 'Step back from the edge, it's dangerous!'
Si ves un incendio, aléjate lo más rápido posible.
B1If you see a fire, get away as fast as possible.
💡 Grammar Points
The Command Form (Imperative)
This word is a direct order. It is the informal command form for 'you' (tú). We use this when telling someone exactly what to do.
Pronoun Attachment
When giving a positive command in Spanish, the pronoun ('te' in this case) is glued right onto the end of the verb. This is why it looks like one long word.
The Necessary Accent Mark
Because the pronoun 'te' is attached, the word's natural stress shifts. The accent mark ('é') is added to keep the stress on the original syllable, making sure you pronounce it correctly: ah-LEH-hah-teh.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "Alejate"
Correction: Aléjate. Without the accent, the stress would fall on the 'a' (ah-leh-HAH-te) instead of the 'e', making it sound incorrect.
Using the Negative Structure
Mistake: "Te aléjate"
Correction: ¡Aléjate! When the command is positive, the pronoun follows the verb. When the command is negative (No te alejes), the pronoun comes before the verb.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Danger or Conflict
Since this is a direct command, use 'aléjate' primarily when warning someone about immediate danger or when expressing strong emotional boundaries during a conflict.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: aléjate
Question 1 of 2
If you wanted to tell a group of people (ustedes) to get away, which command would you use?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'aléjate' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is necessary because when the pronoun 'te' is attached to the command form ('aleja'), the natural stress of the word would shift to the last syllable. The accent mark forces the stress to stay on the second syllable ('LEH'), which is the correct way to pronounce the command.
How do I make the command formal (for Usted)?
To make the command polite or formal, you would use 'Aléjese' (ah-LEH-heh-seh). Notice the verb ending changes to 'e' and the pronoun changes to 'se'.