Talking to Pets in Spanish
The commands, pet talk and fond expressions Spaniards use with dogs and cats.
Spain is full of dogs: people take them 'a la calle' several times a day, chat with other owners in the park, and talk to their pets with commands like ¡Sentado! and ¡Quieto! plus endless affectionate words like guapo and bonito. Cats get their own calls, from 'mis, mis' to shoo them away with ¡Zape! The cards follow a weekend of pet-sitting a neighbour's dog and cat in Madrid.
- 1
¡Sentado! ¡Muy bien, guapo!
Sit! Good boy!
- 2
¡Quieto! No te muevas.
Stay! Don't move.
- 3
¡Ven aquí, bonito!
Come here, sweetie!
- 4
¡Suelta! Eso no es tuyo.
Drop it! That's not yours.
- 5
¡Ni se te ocurra!
Don't you even think about it!
- 6
Dame la pata.
Give me your paw.
- 7
Mira cómo mueve la cola.
Look how he's wagging his tail.
- 8
¿Quién es el perrito más bueno del mundo?
Who's the best little doggy in the world?
- 9
Es más bueno que el pan.
He's as good as gold.
- 10
Es tan listo que solo le falta hablar.
He's so clever, all he can't do is talk.
- 11
Se te cae la baba con él.
You're totally besotted with him.
- 12
¡Deja de ladrar, que vas a despertar a los vecinos!
Stop barking, you'll wake the neighbours!
- 13
¡Vamos a la calle!
Walkies!
- 14
Haz pis aquí, venga.
Do your wee here, come on.
- 15
¡Fuera del sofá, ya!
Off the sofa, now!
- 16
¡Zape, gato!
Shoo, cat!
- 17
Mis, mis, ven aquí.
Kitty, kitty, come here.
- 18
¿Tienes hambre, cariño?
Are you hungry, sweetheart?
- 19
¡Pero qué pillo eres!
You little rascal!
- 20
Pórtate bien mientras no estoy.
Be good while I'm away.