quitarme
/kee-TAHR-meh/
to take off (clothing, accessories)
Quitarme means 'to take off' clothing or accessories from oneself.
quitarme(Verb)
to take off (clothing, accessories)
?as in, removing something from your own body
to remove (myself)
?focusing on the action done to the speaker
📝 In Action
Necesito quitarme los zapatos después de correr.
A1I need to take off my shoes after running.
Voy a quitarme esta chaqueta, hace mucho calor aquí.
A2I'm going to take off this jacket, it's very hot here.
¿Puedes ayudarme a quitarme este anillo? Está atascado.
B1Can you help me take off this ring? It's stuck.
💡 Grammar Points
Pronoun Placement (Attached)
The word 'quitarme' is the base verb 'quitar' plus 'me'. This means the action of removing is directed toward 'me' (myself). This structure is only used with the infinitive, the gerund (quitándome), and affirmative commands (¡Quítame!).
Pronoun Placement (Separated)
In most conjugated tenses (like present or past), the 'me' separates from the verb and goes first: 'Yo me quito' (I take off) or 'Tú te quitas' (You take off).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'Me'
Mistake: "Quiero quitar la camisa."
Correction: Quiero quitarme la camisa. (If you forget 'me', it sounds like you want to remove someone else's shirt.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Me' is Key
Think of 'quitarme' as meaning 'to remove for me/myself.' If you are talking about removing something from a table, you just use 'quitar'.
Quitarme can also mean 'to get out of the way' by physically moving aside.
quitarme(Verb)
to get out of the way
?physically moving aside
to remove oneself
?to withdraw from a situation
📝 In Action
Tuve que quitarme rápido para que el coche pasara.
B1I had to get out of the way quickly so the car could pass.
No quiero quitarme de este proyecto; es demasiado importante.
B2I don't want to remove myself from this project; it's too important.
Lo mejor es quitarme de en medio cuando mis padres discuten.
C1The best thing is to get out of the middle (out of the way) when my parents argue.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'De'
When using 'quitarse' to mean removing yourself from a location or situation, you often need the small word 'de' (from) immediately after the verb: 'quitarme de la mesa' (to remove myself from the table).
⭐ Usage Tips
Physical vs. Figurative
This meaning can be used for physically moving (stepping aside) or figuratively removing yourself from an argument or responsibility.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: quitarme
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'quitarme' in its meaning of 'to take off clothing'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 'me' attached to the end of 'quitar'?
'Me' is attached to the end of the verb only when the verb is in its base form (infinitive), like 'quitarme,' or when it is a gerund ('quitándome') or an affirmative command ('¡Quítame!'). This is a Spanish rule to keep the verb and its attached pronoun together in these specific forms.
What is the difference between 'quitar' and 'quitarse'?
'Quitar' means 'to remove' or 'to take away' something from *someone else* or *a place* (e.g., 'Quito el libro' - I remove the book). 'Quitarse' (using 'me,' 'te,' 'se,' etc.) means 'to remove something from *yourself*' (e.g., 'Me quito el libro' - I take the book away from myself).