Ready to boss people around in Spanish? Commands turn you from a polite observer into a decisive speaker-whether you’re ordering a coffee, giving directions, or telling your dog to sit. This list hands you roughly 51 imperative forms, from everyday tú commands to formal usted and plural vosotros forms, so you can speak with confidence in real situations.
Every entry comes with a straightforward meaning and a natural example sentence, so you see exactly how the command fires off in a real conversation. No fluff, no dusty grammar lecture-just the practical phrases that help you take charge of your Spanish. When you’re ready to study offline, grab the free PDF using the button just below the table.
Want more than one list? Browse our Spanish section for more Yak Yacker study pages, printable lists, and quiz-friendly review material.
What Spanish Commands Are
Spanish commands use the imperative to tell someone to do something, stop something, or respond right away. In this list we are focusing on common tú commands, because those are the ones learners meet early in class, travel, and daily conversation.
Some command forms are regular, while others change more than you might expect, like ven, haz, or di. Use the table to connect each command form to its infinitive and a short example sentence you can picture.
Spanish Commands Quiz
Think you can fire off a Spanish command without second-guessing yourself? Take the quick quiz below and see which ones stick – no grades, just a friendly nudge.
Spanish Commands and Imperative Forms List
| Command Form | Infinitive | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| abre | abrir | open | Abre la puerta. | Open the door. |
| aprende | aprender | learn | Aprende español. | Learn Spanish. |
| ayuda | ayudar | help | Ayuda a tu hermano. | Help your brother. |
| baila | bailar | dance | Baila conmigo. | Dance with me. |
| baja | bajar | go down | Baja las escaleras con cuidado. | Go down the stairs carefully. |
| bebe | beber | drink | Bebe agua. | Drink water. |
| busca | buscar | look for | Busca las llaves. | Look for the keys. |
| camina | caminar | walk | Camina conmigo. | Walk with me. |
| canta | cantar | sing | Canta una canción. | Sing a song. |
| cierra | cerrar | close | Cierra la ventana. | Close the window. |
| cocina | cocinar | cook | Cocina la cena. | Cook dinner. |
| come | comer | eat | Come la sopa. | Eat the soup. |
| compra | comprar | buy | Compra pan, por favor. | Buy bread, please. |
| corre | correr | run | Corre rápido. | Run fast. |
| corta | cortar | cut | Corta el pan. | Cut the bread. |
| da | dar | give | Dame el libro. | Give me the book. |
| dime | decir | tell me | Dime la verdad. | Tell me the truth. |
| duerme | dormir | sleep | Duerme temprano. | Sleep early. |
| entra | entrar | enter; come in | Entra en la casa. | Come into the house. |
| escribe | escribir | write | Escribe tu nombre. | Write your name. |
| escucha | escuchar | listen | Escucha la canción. | Listen to the song. |
| espera | esperar | wait | Espera aquí un momento. | Wait here for a moment. |
| estudia | estudiar | study | Estudia para el examen. | Study for the exam. |
| gira | girar | turn | Gira a la derecha. | Turn right. |
| habla | hablar | speak | Habla más despacio. | Speak more slowly. |
