Going to the dentist can be stressful, but a friendly professional knows exactly how to put you at ease with a single word.
Softening commands with nomás
In Latin America, the word nomás (a contraction of no más) is frequently added after a verb to soften a command or offer casual encouragement. When used with an imperative, it translates to "go ahead and..." or "just...". It removes the harshness of a direct order, turning it into a polite, easygoing invitation.
| Come into the office, go ahead and sit down for a little while. | Pase al consultorio nomás, siéntese un ratito. |
| Go ahead and open your mouth slowly. | Abra la boca nomás, despacito. |
| Was the gum hurting you? Go ahead and tell the dentist. | ¿Le dolía la encía? Dígale al dentista nomás. |
You will also hear nomás used after a noun or adjective to politely downplay a situation, reassuring the listener that something is "just" or "only" a minor thing.
| You just have a tiny cavity, relax. | Tiene una caries pequeñita nomás, relájese. |
| It is just a gum problem, it won't bleed much. | Es un problema de la encía nomás, no sangrará mucho. |
Whether you are using formal usted commands or casual tú commands, popping nomás at the end of your phrase is a highly authentic, everyday tool for sounding warm and approachable.
| I doubt that you have bad breath, just breathe. | Dudo que tengas mal aliento, respira nomás. |
| Just bite gently, as if you were eating bread. | Muerde suavemente nomás, como si comieras pan. |
