Spanish Commands: The Complete Guide for Workplace Communication
Updated: Jun 15
Commands are the grammar of getting things done. In a workplace setting, the ability to give clear, direct instructions in Spanish is one of the most immediately practical grammar skills a manager, supervisor, or team leader can develop. Safety directives, task assignments, quality checks, procedural instructions, and the dozens of small redirections that happen across a shift all depend on commands. Get them right and your instructions land. Get them wrong and the communication gap widens exactly when you need it to close.
Spanish commands, called the imperative, are more varied than English commands. Where English uses a single form for every command regardless of who you are speaking to, Spanish has different command forms depending on the relationship between the speaker and the listener. The form you use with a new employee is different from the form you use with your crew, and both are different from the form you use when addressing a group. Those distinctions matter in Spanish-speaking workplace cultures where register signals respect, and using the wrong form can unintentionally create distance or disrespect.
This guide covers every command form relevant to workplace communication: formal commands, informal commands, group commands, negative commands, commands with pronouns, and the most useful ready-to-use command phrases across the industries where Momentum Spanish works.
Why Command Forms Matter in Spanish Workplace Communication
Before getting into the forms, understand why getting this right matters beyond grammar accuracy.
In many Latin American workplace cultures, particularly those from Mexico, Central America, and South America, the distinction between formal and informal address is not just a grammatical nicety. It is a signal of respect and relationship. Using the informal tú form with a new employee or someone in a position of seniority can come across as presumptuous or dismissive. Using the formal usted form consistently, especially in safety-critical or disciplinary contexts, signals that you are taking the interaction seriously.
The good news is that the formal command form, based on usted, is the one most managers and supervisors should default to in workplace communication with employees they do not know well. It is never offensive to be respectful, and starting formal and shifting to informal as the relationship develops is always easier than the reverse.
How Spanish Commands Work: The Overview
Spanish has the following command forms:
Tú commands (informal singular) — used with one person you know well
Usted commands (formal singular) — used with one person you address formally
Ustedes commands (formal or informal plural) — used with a group
Nosotros commands — equivalent to "let's do something"
Vosotros commands (Spain only) — not covered in this guide as it is not used in Latin America
For workplace communication in the United States, the three most important forms are usted (formal singular), ustedes (plural), and tú (informal singular for established relationships).
Formal Commands: Usted
The formal command, based on usted, is the command form every workplace communicator should master first. It is the appropriate form for new employees, for patients in healthcare settings, for employees you do not know well, and for any safety-critical or formal communication context.
How to form usted commands:
For most verbs, the usted command is formed by taking the first person singular (yo) present tense form, dropping the -o ending, and adding the opposite vowel ending.
AR verbs: take the yo form, drop -o, add -e
ER and IR verbs: take the yo form, drop -o, add -a
AR verb example: Hablar (to speak)
yo form: hablo
Drop -o: habl-
Add -e: Hable (Speak.)
ER verb example: Comer (to eat)
yo form: como
Drop -o: com-
Add -a: Coma (Eat.)
IR verb example: Escribir (to write)
yo form: escribo
Drop -o: escrib-
Add -a: Escriba (Write.)
This "opposite vowel" rule is why the yo form matters: any irregularities in the yo form carry over into the command form. If the yo form is irregular, the command will reflect that irregularity.
Irregular yo forms and their command implications:
Tener → tengo → Tenga (Have / Hold)
Poner → pongo → Ponga (Put / Place)
Hacer → hago → Haga (Do / Make)
Venir → vengo → Venga (Come)
Decir → digo → Diga (Say / Tell)
Salir → salgo → Salga (Leave / Go out)
Traer → traigo → Traiga (Bring)
Conocer → conozco → Conozca (Know / Meet)
Conducir → conduzco → Conduzca (Drive)
Ver → veo → Vea (See / Look)
Completely irregular usted commands:
A small group of verbs have irregular command forms that do not follow the opposite vowel rule:
Ser → Sea (Be)
Estar → Esté (Be)
Ir → Vaya (Go)
Dar → Dé (Give)
Saber → Sepa (Know)
Informal Commands: Tú
The informal command, based on tú, is used with employees you know well, with younger workers in some contexts, and in casual team environments where informal address is the established norm. It should be used only when the relationship has earned it and the employee signals comfort with informal address.
Affirmative tú commands:
For most verbs, the affirmative tú command is simply the third person singular (él/ella) present tense form.
Hablar → habla (third person: habla) → Habla (Speak.)
Comer → come (third person: come) → Come (Eat.)
Escribir → escribe (third person: escribe) → Escribe (Write.)
Trabajar → trabaja → Trabaja (Work.)
Leer → lee → Lee (Read.)
Abrir → abre → Abre (Open.)
Irregular affirmative tú commands:
Eight verbs have irregular affirmative tú command forms that do not follow the third person rule. These are high-frequency verbs worth memorizing as a group:
Ser → Sé (Be)
Ir → Ve (Go) — also means "see" from ver, context clarifies
Ver → Ve (See)
Hacer → Haz (Do / Make)
Tener → Ten (Have / Hold)
Poner → Pon (Put)
Decir → Di (Say / Tell)
Salir → Sal (Leave)
Venir → Ven (Come)
A memory device for the irregular tú commands: Ven Di Sal Haz Ten Pon Sé Ve — some learners remember this as a name or phrase.
Group Commands: Ustedes
The ustedes command is used when addressing a group of two or more people. In Latin American Spanish, ustedes is used for both formal and informal groups. It is the form you reach for when giving safety briefings, team instructions, or any directive to a crew or department.
How to form ustedes commands:
The ustedes command adds -n to the usted command form.
Usted command + n = Ustedes command
Hable → Hablen (Speak. — to a group)
Coma → Coman (Eat. — to a group)
Escriba → Escriban (Write. — to a group)
Trabaje → Trabajen (Work. — to a group)
Ponga → Pongan (Put. — to a group)
Haga → Hagan (Do/Make. — to a group)
Venga → Vengan (Come. — to a group)
Vaya → Vayan (Go. — to a group)
This makes the ustedes command easy to form once you know the usted command: just add -n.
Nosotros Commands: Let's Do Something
The nosotros command is the equivalent of "let's" in English. It is used to propose a collective action that includes the speaker.
How to form nosotros commands:
The nosotros command follows the same opposite vowel rule as the usted command but uses the nosotros ending.
AR verbs: take the yo form, drop -o, add -emos
ER and IR verbs: take the yo form, drop -o, add -amos
Trabajar → Trabajemos (Let's work.)
Empezar → Empecemos (Let's start.)
Hablar → Hablemos (Let's talk.)
Comer → Comamos (Let's eat.)
Ir → Vamos (Let's go.) — irregular; vayamos is technically correct but vamos is universal in speech
These are particularly useful in workplace contexts for opening meetings, transitioning between activities, and building a sense of collective direction.
Let's get started. → Empecemos.
Let's review the safety protocol. → Repasemos el protocolo de seguridad.
Let's go over the plan for today. → Revisemos el plan para hoy.
Let's work together on this. → Trabajemos juntos en esto.
Negative Commands: How to Say Don't
Negative commands tell someone not to do something. The rule for forming them is consistent across all forms: place no before the command verb. However, the verb forms for negative commands differ from affirmative commands in the tú form.
Negative usted commands: Same as affirmative usted commands with no before the verb.
Do not speak. → No hable.
Do not enter. → No entre.
Do not touch that. → No toque eso.
Do not leave yet. → No salga todavía.
Negative ustedes commands: Same as affirmative ustedes commands with no before the verb.
Do not speak. → No hablen.
Do not enter. → No entren.
Do not touch that. → No toquen eso.
Do not leave yet. → No salgan todavía.
Negative tú commands: This is where the tú form changes. The affirmative tú command uses the third person present form. The negative tú command uses the tú form of the subjunctive, which follows the opposite vowel rule (same as usted commands but with -es for AR verbs and -as for ER/IR verbs).
Do not speak. → No hables.
Do not enter. → No entres.
Do not touch that. → No toques eso.
Do not leave yet. → No salgas todavía.
The practical takeaway: for negative commands, the usted and tú forms use the same base (opposite vowel) but different endings. Usted uses -e (AR) or -a (ER/IR). Tú uses -es (AR) or -as (ER/IR).
Commands With Pronouns
When object pronouns (direct, indirect, or reflexive) appear with commands, their placement follows clear rules.
Affirmative commands: pronouns attach to the end
Sign it. → Fírmelo. (usted) / Fírmalo. (tú)
Send it to him. → Envíeselo. (usted) / Envíaselo. (tú)
Wash your hands. → Lávese las manos. (usted) / Lávate las manos. (tú)
Put it here. → Póngalo aquí. (usted) / Ponlo aquí. (tú)
Tell me. → Dígame. (usted) / Dime. (tú)
Give it to them. → Dénselo. (ustedes)
When pronouns attach to affirmative commands, an accent mark is almost always required on the stressed syllable of the verb to maintain correct pronunciation.
Negative commands: pronouns go before the verb
Do not sign it. → No lo firme. (usted) / No lo firmes. (tú)
Do not send it to him. → No se lo envíe. (usted) / No se lo envíes. (tú)
Do not wash your hands yet. → No se lave las manos todavía. (usted)
Do not put it there. → No lo ponga ahí. (usted) / No lo pongas ahí. (tú)
Do not tell me. → No me diga. (usted) / No me digas. (tú)
Ready-to-Use Workplace Commands in Spanish
Here are the most practical command phrases across the industries Momentum Spanish serves, organized by context. All examples use the formal usted form unless noted, which is appropriate for most professional workplace interactions.
Safety commands:
Stop. → Pare. (usted) / Para. (tú) / Paren. (ustedes)
Stop work immediately. → Detenga el trabajo de inmediato.
Put on your hard hat. → Póngase el casco.
Wear your safety glasses. → Use los lentes de seguridad.
Put on your gloves. → Póngase los guantes.
Stay behind the barrier. → Quédese detrás de la barrera.
Do not enter this area. → No entre a esta área.
Watch your step. → Tenga cuidado donde pisa.
Get down from there. → Bájese de ahí.
Call 911. → Llame al 911.
Do not move him. → No lo mueva.
Evacuate immediately. → Evacúe de inmediato.
Task direction commands:
Start here. → Empiece aquí.
Continue. → Continúe.
Finish this first. → Termine esto primero.
Come here. → Venga aquí.
Wait. → Espere.
Listen carefully. → Escuche con atención.
Follow the instructions. → Siga las instrucciones.
Check this. → Revise esto.
Measure this. → Mida esto.
Sign here. → Firme aquí.
Fill out this form. → Llene este formulario.
Turn it in before you leave. → Entréguelo antes de irse.
Healthcare commands:
Breathe deeply. → Respire profundo.
Stay still. → No se mueva.
Open your mouth. → Abra la boca.
Roll up your sleeve. → Súbase la manga.
Lie down. → Acuéstese.
Sit up. → Siéntese.
Press here. → Presione aquí.
Call us if the pain gets worse. → Llámenos si el dolor empeora.
Take this medication twice a day. → Tome este medicamento dos veces al día.
Do not eat before the procedure. → No coma antes del procedimiento.
Construction and trades commands:
Measure twice before you cut. → Mida dos veces antes de cortar.
Level this. → Nivele esto.
Tighten this. → Apriete esto.
Do not touch the hot metal. → No toque el metal caliente.
Load the truck. → Cargue el camión.
Clean up your area. → Limpie su área.
Lock out the machine. → Bloquee la máquina.
Wear your harness. → Póngase el arnés.
Education commands:
Sit down. → Siéntese. (formal) / Siéntate. (tú)
Be quiet. → Silencio. / Cállese. (formal) / Cállate. (tú)
Raise your hand. → Levante la mano. / Levanta la mano. (tú)
Open your book. → Abra su libro. / Abre tu libro. (tú)
Turn in your work. → Entregue su trabajo. / Entrega tu trabajo. (tú)
Pay attention. → Preste atención. / Presta atención. (tú)
Management and HR commands:
Come to my office. → Venga a mi oficina.
Sign this document. → Firme este documento.
Report this immediately. → Repórtelo de inmediato.
Do not discuss this with your coworkers. → No hable de esto con sus compañeros.
Submit your timesheet by Friday. → Entregue su hoja de tiempo para el viernes.
Contact HR if you have concerns. → Contacte a recursos humanos si tiene preocupaciones.
Softening Commands: Making Instructions Sound Less Harsh
Direct commands can sometimes feel abrupt, particularly in workplace cultures where indirect communication is the norm. Spanish has several ways to soften a command while maintaining clarity.
Add por favor (please):
Sign here please. → Firme aquí, por favor.
Wait a moment please. → Espere un momento, por favor.
Use the conditional instead of the command:
Could you sign here? → ¿Podría firmar aquí?
Could you wait a moment? → ¿Podría esperar un momento?
Use querer + infinitive:
I need you to sign this. → Necesito que firme esto.
I need you to wait. → Necesito que espere.
Add a time reference to reduce urgency:
When you have a moment, come to my office. → Cuando tenga un momento, venga a mi oficina.
Before you leave, sign this. → Antes de irse, firme esto.
These softening strategies are particularly useful in HR conversations, performance discussions, and any context where the direct command form might create unnecessary friction.
Common Mistakes With Spanish Commands
Understanding where learners go wrong helps you avoid the same errors.
Using the infinitive instead of the command form. In English, instructions can be given with the infinitive in some contexts. In Spanish, the command form is required for direct instructions. Firmar aquí (incorrect as a command) versus Firme aquí (correct).
Using the wrong register. Using tú commands with someone you address formally, or usted commands with children in a classroom, sends the wrong social signal even when the grammar is technically correct.
Forgetting the subjunctive for negative tú commands. The negative tú command uses the subjunctive form (no hables), not the affirmative tú form (no habla is incorrect).
Misplacing pronouns. Affirmative commands attach pronouns to the end. Negative commands place pronouns before the verb. Getting this backward produces incorrect sentences.
Forgetting accent marks when pronouns attach. When pronouns attach to affirmative commands, accent marks are almost always required to maintain correct stress.
Confusing ser and estar commands. Sea is the command for ser (be — permanent). Esté is the command for estar (be — temporary). These are used in different contexts and are not interchangeable.
A Decision Framework for Spanish Commands
When you need to give a command in Spanish, run through these questions:
Who am I addressing? → One person I address formally? Use usted. One person I address informally? Use tú. A group? Use ustedes. Myself and others? Use nosotros.
Is this a positive or negative command? → Positive: use the command form. Negative: add no before the verb (and remember the tú form changes to the subjunctive in the negative).
Are there pronouns? → Affirmative command: attach pronouns to the end (and add accent mark). Negative command: place pronouns before the verb.
Does this verb have an irregular yo form? → If yes, the command form will reflect that irregularity.
Is the verb completely irregular? → Check ser, estar, ir, dar, saber specifically.
Does the context call for softening? → Consider por favor, the conditional, or a necesito que construction.
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