quítate
“quítate” means “Get out of the way” in Spanish (Telling someone to move aside).
Get out of the way, Move!
Also: Take it off, Remove yourself
📝 In Action
¡Quítate de la puerta, por favor!
A2Get away from the door, please!
Quítate esa gorra; no se permiten sombreros aquí.
B1Take that cap off; hats are not allowed here.
El coche viene rápido. ¡Quítate!
A2The car is coming fast. Move!
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: quítate
Question 1 of 2
Which of these is the most appropriate translation for '¡Quítate!' in a crowded market?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb *quitar* comes from the late Latin verb *quietare*, meaning 'to put at rest' or 'to set free.' Over time, the meaning shifted in Spanish to mean 'to take away' or 'to remove' something, essentially freeing the space or object.
First recorded: 13th century (as *quitar*)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'quítate' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is necessary because when you attach the pronoun 'te' to the two-syllable command 'quita,' the stress naturally tries to shift to the last syllable. Spanish rules require the stress to remain on the original first syllable ('quí-'), so the accent mark forces the pronunciation to stay correct.
Is 'quítate' always rude?
'Quítate' is direct, but not necessarily rude. It's often used urgently in traffic or playfully among friends. However, always use the formal 'Quítese' or a softer phrase like 'Perdón, ¿me permite pasar?' (Excuse me, may I pass?) when speaking to strangers.