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Deja tu chaqueta arriba y tus zapatos abajo, por favor.

Deja tu chaqueta arriba y tus zapatos abajo, por favor.
Leave your jacket upstairs and your shoes downstairs, please.
FromLesson 16inHardcore Spanish (Spain)

Questions & Answers about Deja tu chaqueta arriba y tus zapatos abajo, por favor.

Is deja a command? Which person is it?

Yes. Deja is the affirmative imperative of dejar for tú (informal singular). Other imperative forms:

  • usted (formal singular): deje
  • vosotros (informal plural, Spain): dejad
  • ustedes (plural formal in Spain; plural everywhere in Latin America): dejen Negative imperatives: no dejes / no deje / no dejéis / no dejen.
Should I say tu chaqueta or la chaqueta?

Both can be correct. Spanish often uses the definite article with clothing and body parts when the owner is understood: Deja la chaqueta arriba would usually be taken to mean your jacket. Use tu chaqueta if you want to make ownership explicit or distinguish it from someone else’s. Note: with reflexive verbs about putting on/taking off clothes, Spanish strongly prefers the article, not the possessive: Quítate la chaqueta, Ponte los zapatos.

What’s the difference between tu and tú?
  • tu (no accent) = possessive adjective “your” (singular): tu chaqueta
  • tú (with accent) = subject pronoun “you”: Tú dejas… In the sentence you need tu/tus (possessive).
Do arriba and abajo mean “upstairs/downstairs” or just “up/down”?

They can mean either, depending on context:

  • In a building: arriba = upstairs, abajo = downstairs.
  • Within one place or object: “on the top/upper part” vs “on the bottom/lower part.” If you want to be explicit: en la planta de arriba / en la planta de abajo, or en la balda de arriba / en la de abajo (on the top/bottom shelf).
Do I need a preposition like en or de with arriba/abajo?
Not here. Don’t say en arriba. In Spain, arriba de is uncommon for “on top of”; use encima de or sobre for that: Deja la chaqueta encima de la cama. On its own, arriba/abajo is fine for “upstairs/downstairs.”
Where does por favor go, and is the comma required?

Common options:

  • At the end, preceded by a comma: …, por favor.
  • At the beginning, followed by a comma: Por favor, … Both are standard. You can also make it polite without por favor by using a request: ¿Puedes/Podrías dejar…?
Can I replace the nouns with pronouns? How do I place them with commands?

Yes. With affirmative commands, attach the pronoun and add a written accent if needed:

  • Déjala arriba (la chaqueta)
  • Déjalos abajo (los zapatos) With negative commands, the pronouns go before the verb and there’s no added accent:
  • No la dejes arriba ni los dejes abajo.
What’s the nuance difference between dejar and poner?
  • dejar = to leave something somewhere (and not take it with you). It highlights the idea of leaving it behind.
  • poner = to put/place something. It doesn’t imply leaving it there. Often both work: Deja/Pon tu chaqueta arriba. If the point is “stop carrying it and leave it there,” dejar is more natural. For carrying something to another floor, use motion verbs: sube (take up), baja (take down).
Does dejar also mean “to let/allow” or “to stop doing something”?

Yes. Examples:

  • Allow: Déjalo hablar / Déjale hablar or Deja que hable = “Let him speak.”
  • Stop doing something: Deja de gritar = “Stop shouting.” In your sentence it’s the “leave (an object)” meaning.
Can I say Deja arriba tu chaqueta instead of Deja tu chaqueta arriba?
You can. The neutral order is object + place (Deja tu chaqueta arriba). Fronting the place (Deja arriba tu chaqueta) is also correct and adds emphasis or contrast on the place.
How do I say this formally or to more than one person in Spain?
  • Formal singular (usted): Deje su chaqueta arriba y sus zapatos abajo, por favor.
  • Informal plural (vosotros): Dejad vuestras chaquetas arriba y vuestros zapatos abajo, por favor.
  • Formal/plural (ustedes): Dejen sus chaquetas arriba y sus zapatos abajo, por favor.
Any Spain-focused pronunciation tips?
  • zapatos: z is a “th” sound [θ] in most of Spain: [θaˈpatos].
  • arriba: trill the rr; [aˈriβa].
  • chaqueta: ch as in “church,” qu before e gives [k] and the u is silent: [tʃaˈketa].
  • por favor: the v sounds like a soft b.
Are chaqueta and zapatos the most natural words in Spain?
  • chaqueta = generic jacket. Heavier coat = abrigo; short zip-up jacket = cazadora; suit jacket = americana.
  • zapatos = (usually) formal shoes. Sneakers/trainers = zapatillas (or deportivas). House slippers = zapatillas de casa.
Is saying sube arriba/baja abajo wrong?
They’re common in colloquial speech (pleonasms) but some consider them redundant. Your sentence avoids that by using deja … arriba/abajo. If you want the motion idea: Sube la chaqueta y deja los zapatos abajo.
How do I make it negative?

Use the negative imperative (subjunctive forms):

  • No dejes tu chaqueta arriba ni tus zapatos abajo.
  • No deje / No dejéis / No dejen, as needed for usted / vosotros / ustedes.
Could arriba/abajo refer to shelves or parts of a unit rather than floors?
Yes. Without further context it can mean “on the top/bottom part.” To be precise: en la balda de arriba (on the top shelf), en la de abajo (on the bottom one).
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