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How to Say "stand up" in Spanish

English → Spanish

levántate

/leh-VHN-tah-teh//leˈβanta.te/

verbA1informal
Use this when directly commanding one person to get up from a sitting or lying position.
A storybook illustration of a young person sitting upright in a cozy bed, stretching their arms high above their head, indicating they are waking up.

Examples

¡Levántate! Ya es tarde.

Get up! It's already late.

¡Levántate! Ya son las diez y el desayuno está listo.

Get up! It's already ten and breakfast is ready.

Por favor, levántate para que pueda limpiar debajo de tu silla.

Please, stand up so I can clean under your chair.

Si te caes, levántate de inmediato y sigue intentándolo.

If you fall down, get up immediately and keep trying.

Command Structure (Affirmative Tú)

This word is a single command. It combines the 'tú' command form of the verb ('levanta') and the 'tú' reflexive pronoun ('te'), attaching the pronoun directly to the end.

The Accent Mark

The written accent (tílde) on the 'á' is required. When a pronoun is added to an affirmative command, the original stress of the verb must be kept, forcing an accent mark on the third-to-last syllable.

Reflexive Action

It comes from the verb 'levantarse' (to lift oneself). The 'te' means you are doing the action to yourself (you are lifting yourself up).

Forgetting the Pronoun

Mistake: “Levanta”

Correction: Levántate. 'Levanta' alone means 'Lift it!' or 'He/She lifts.' If you want someone to lift *themselves*, you need the 'te'.

Misplacing the Pronoun

Mistake: “Te levanta”

Correction: Levántate. When giving a positive command, the small action word ('te') must always be attached to the end of the verb.

párate

verbA1informal
Use this when directly commanding one person to rise specifically from a chair or the floor.

Examples

Párate de esa silla, por favor.

Stand up from that chair, please.

levantar

/leh-vahn-tar//leβanˈtaɾ/

verbA1general
Use this to describe the general act of getting up, often from a sitting or lying position, without a direct command.
A cartoon person cheerfully getting out of bed in the morning, standing up.

Examples

Siempre me levanto a las seis de la mañana.

I always get up at six in the morning.

Cuando entró el jefe, todos se levantaron.

When the boss came in, everyone stood up.

¿Por qué no te has levantado todavía?

Why haven't you gotten up yet?

The Reflexive 'Se'

When you use 'levantarse,' the 'se' (or 'me, te, nos,' etc.) tells you that the person performing the action is also the one receiving it (you are lifting yourself).

Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun

Mistake: “Yo levanto a las ocho. (I lift [something] at eight.)”

Correction: Yo me levanto a las ocho. (I get myself up at eight.)

levanten

/leh-BAHN-tehn//leˈβanten/

verbA2general
Use this when commanding a group of people to raise something, like their hands, or to get up.
A group of happy children raising their hands high in a classroom setting.

Examples

Por favor, levanten la mano si tienen una pregunta.

Please, raise your hand if you have a question.

Quiero que levanten sus juguetes antes de salir.

I want you all to pick up your toys before going out.

Espero que ellos levanten el muro pronto.

I hope they build the wall soon.

Two Roles for 'Levanten'

This word works as a direct command for a group ('Levanten las manos!') and also in sentences where you express a wish ('Espero que levanten las cajas').

Addressing Groups

Use 'levanten' when talking to two or more people. In Latin America, this is used for any group; in Spain, it's the polite/formal way to address a group.

Levantan vs. Levanten

Mistake: “Using 'levantan' for a command.”

Correction: Say '¡Levanten!' for a command. 'Levantan' (with an 'a') is just a statement of fact, like 'they are lifting right now.'

Command vs. General Action

The most common confusion is between commands like 'levántate'/'párate' (addressing one person directly) and the general statement 'levantar' (describing the act). Remember to use the imperative forms when you are telling someone to stand up, and the infinitive or conjugated form when simply stating the action.

Related Translations

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