Spanish Irregular Commands: The 8 Short Forms (Tú)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
For the 'tú' form, eight common verbs have unique, short affirmative commands that don't follow standard conjugation rules.
- Use the special short form for affirmative commands: 'Ven' (Come).
- For negative commands, revert to the regular 'tú' subjunctive form: 'No vengas' (Don't come).
- Attach object pronouns to the end of affirmative commands: 'Dímelo' (Tell it to me).
Overview
Ever tried to tell your friend to "just do it" in Spanish and ended up sounding like a robot? You probably used the long, formal version that makes you sound like a 19th-century butler instead of a cool study buddy. We've all been there.
Commands are the heartbeat of daily Spanish—they are how we share memes, give Netflix recommendations, and tell our roommates to finally wash the dishes. While most Spanish commands are easy (just use the ella form!), there is a small gang of eight rebels that refuse to follow the rules. These are the Irregular Tú Commands.
Master these, and you'll suddenly sound 10x more natural in every WhatsApp group chat you're in.
Spanish is a very direct language when it comes to friends. We don't say "I was wondering if you could perhaps come here?" as much as we just say Ven. These short, punchy forms are used for people you know well—your friends, your siblings, your dog, or that one guy you've been following on TikTok for three years.
In the regular world, you just take a verb like hablar and say habla. Easy. But verbs like hacer (to do/make) or ir (to go) are too busy being important to follow standard patterns.
They shorten themselves into tiny, one-syllable powerhouses. Think of them as the "slang" of the grammar world. They are the shortcuts that make the language flow.
If you try to say hace when you mean "do it!", people will understand you, but they'll know you're still thinking in textbook mode. Let's get you out of the textbook and into the real world.
How This Grammar Works
tú commands, we are giving an affirmative order. We are telling someone to do something right now. For the irregulars, the logic isn't about endings; it's about efficiency.salir (to leave) just becomes sal. It’s like the verb is in such a hurry to get you to leave that it doesn't even have time for its own vowels.- These only apply to Affirmative commands (telling someone to "Do" something).
- Negative commands ("Don't do it!") use a completely different set of rules (the Subjunctive).
- These are strictly for the
tú(informal) relationship. - Most of these irregulars are "Go-Go" verbs in the present tense (like
pongo,salgo,vengo), which is a great way to remember them.
usted person.Formation Pattern
Ven
Ven a mi casa. (Come to my house.)
Di
Di la verdad. (Tell the truth.)
Sal
Sal de aquí. (Get out of here.)
Haz
Haz tu tarea. (Do your homework.)
Ten
Ten paciencia. (Have patience.)
Ve
Ve al gimnasio. (Go to the gym.)
Pon
Pon la mesa. (Set the table.)
Sé
Sé bueno. (Be good.)
sé has an accent mark? That’s because without it, it’s just the reflexive pronoun se. We don't want your friend thinking they are a pronoun; we want them to be a better person! Also, ve is used for both "Go" (from ir) and sometimes people confuse it with "See" (from ver), though the command for ver is actually regular (ve). Context is your best friend here. If you're at a museum, ve probably means "look." If you're standing in a doorway, it probably means "go."
When To Use It
Haz clic en el link de mi bio. That's an irregular command!Pon tu micro en silencio. These aren't just for old-school orders; they are for navigating the 21st century.- Texting friends:
Ven ya, estamos en el bar.(Come now, we’re at the bar.) - Social Media:
Di qué piensas en los comentarios.(Tell us what you think in the comments.) - Streaming:
Pon la serie de Netflix.(Put on the Netflix series.) - Gaming:
Ten cuidado con el enemigo.(Be careful with the enemy.) - Uber/Deliveries:
Ven a la puerta principal.(Come to the main door.)
vosotros for groups, but for one-on-one, tú is king. In parts of Latin America (like Argentina or Uruguay), they use voseo (vení, hacé), which adds a little stress at the end. But if you use these eight irregulars anywhere from Madrid to Mexico City, you will be perfectly understood and sound like someone who actually knows what’s up.Common Mistakes
- 1The Accent Trap: Forgetting the accent on
sé. Without it, you're writing a pronoun. With it, you're giving a command. It’s a small line with a lot of power. It's like the difference between saying "Let's eat, Grandma" and "Let's eat Grandma." Punctuation saves lives (and grammar). - 2Confusing "Go" and "See": Both
ir(to go) andver(to see) useveas their command.
Ve a la tienda.(Go to the store.)Ve ese video.(Watch/See that video.)
a after it, it’s "go." If there's an object, it's "see."- 1Mixing with Negatives: Many people try to say
No hazfor "Don't do." Wrong! Negative commands change form entirely (No hagas). These eight rebels are only for saying "Yes! Do it!" - 2The "Dize" Disaster: Because
decirisdicein the present tense, many people try to saydiceas a command. Nope. It’s justdi. Keep it short. If it feels too long, you're probably doing it wrong. - 3Gender Agreement: Remember that if you use
ser(sé), any adjective that follows must match the person you are talking to.Sé buenato your sister, butSé buenoto your brother. The verb doesn't change, but the world around it does.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
- Tú vs. Usted: If you are talking to your boss or a police officer (hopefully not because you broke a law!), you won't use
haz. You'll usehaga. The irregulars we are learning today are your "VIP pass" for informal situations. Usinghazwith a stranger is like calling your professor "dude." Some might find it chill; others will give you a failing grade. - Affirmative vs. Negative: As mentioned, these are only for "Do it." If you want to say "Don't come," you don't say
No ven. You sayNo vengas. It’s a whole different vibe. Affirmative commands are like a green light; negative commands are a red light with a whole different engine. - Voseo: In Argentina, they don't say
ven, they sayvení. They don't sayhaz, they sayhacé. If you're planning a trip to Buenos Aires, keep this in mind, but the standardtúirregulars are universally understood. It's like the difference between "elevator" and "lift."
Quick FAQ
Are there any more irregulars?
Nope! Just these eight. Once you know them, you've mastered the exceptions for the entire language in this category.
Can I add pronouns to the end?
Yes! This is where it gets fun. Hazlo (Do it), Ponla (Put it), Dime (Tell me). When you add a pronoun, the command and the object become one word.
Why is it haz and not hace?
Because the language evolved to be fast. Over centuries, the extra vowel just fell off because people were in a hurry to tell others what to do.
Is ve for ir used everywhere?
Yes, though in some very specific dialects, you might hear anda, but ve is the gold standard for your A2 exams and daily life.
Does ten only mean "have"?
It's often used for "Here, take this." If you give someone a pen, you say Ten. It’s way more common than saying toma in many places.
Do these work for plural "you"?
No, those follow different rules (haced in Spain, hagan in Latin America). These are strictly one-on-one.
The 8 Irregular Tú Commands
| Infinitive | Affirmative Command | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
Venir
|
Ven
|
Come
|
|
Decir
|
Di
|
Say/Tell
|
|
Salir
|
Sal
|
Leave/Go out
|
|
Hacer
|
Haz
|
Do/Make
|
|
Tener
|
Ten
|
Have
|
|
Ir
|
Ve
|
Go
|
|
Poner
|
Pon
|
Put
|
|
Ser
|
Sé
|
Be
|
Meanings
These are specific, shortened verb forms used to give direct, informal commands to one person.
Direct Command
Giving an order or instruction to a friend or peer.
“¡Ven aquí!”
“Pon la mesa.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Irregular Form
|
Ven aquí
|
|
Negative
|
No + Subjunctive
|
No vengas
|
|
Affirmative + Pronoun
|
Verb + Pronoun
|
Dilo
|
|
Negative + Pronoun
|
No + Pronoun + Subjunctive
|
No lo digas
|
|
Question
|
Verb + Subject?
|
¿Vienes?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Yes/No + Verb
|
Sí, ven
|
Formality Spectrum
Venga aquí, por favor. (Calling someone over.)
Ven aquí. (Calling someone over.)
¡Ven! (Calling someone over.)
¡Ven pa'cá! (Calling someone over.)
The 8 Irregular Commands
Action
- Ven Come
- Haz Do
- Pon Put
State/Being
- Ten Have
- Sé Be
Examples by Level
¡Ven aquí!
Come here!
¡Haz la tarea!
Do the homework!
¡Ten cuidado!
Be careful!
¡Di la verdad!
Tell the truth!
Pon el libro en la mesa.
Put the book on the table.
Sal de la casa ahora.
Leave the house now.
Sé amable con ellos.
Be nice to them.
Ve a la tienda.
Go to the store.
Dímelo todo, por favor.
Tell me everything, please.
Hazlo tú mismo.
Do it yourself.
Ten paciencia con él.
Have patience with him.
Ponlo donde quieras.
Put it wherever you want.
No vengas si estás cansado.
Don't come if you are tired.
No digas nada a nadie.
Don't say anything to anyone.
No salgas sin abrigo.
Don't go out without a coat.
No seas tan impaciente.
Don't be so impatient.
Hazle saber que llegaremos tarde.
Let him know we will arrive late.
Ten presente que es importante.
Keep in mind that it is important.
Ponle más ganas al trabajo.
Put more effort into the work.
Sé tú mismo en la entrevista.
Be yourself in the interview.
Dile que no venga si no quiere.
Tell him not to come if he doesn't want to.
Hazte cargo de la situación.
Take charge of the situation.
Ten por seguro que lo haré.
Rest assured that I will do it.
Sé consciente de los riesgos.
Be aware of the risks.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up the endings.
Using the short form for negative.
Using present tense for commands.
Common Mistakes
No ven
No vengas
Hazlo tú
Hazlo
Di lo
Dilo
No sé
No seas
Venir aquí
Ven aquí
No hazlo
No lo hagas
Ponlo en la mesa
Ponlo en la mesa
No sal
No salgas
No ten miedo
No tengas miedo
Dime lo
Dímelo
No ve
No vayas
No ponlo
No lo pongas
No sé malo
No seas malo
Sentence Patterns
___ (verb) aquí.
No ___ (verb) nada.
___ (verb) el libro.
___ (verb) conmigo.
Real World Usage
¡Ven ya!
¡Hazlo!
Sé profesional.
Ve a la estación.
Pon la dirección.
Di la respuesta.
Memorize the list
Negative trap
Pronoun placement
Regional differences
Smart Tips
Check if it's one of the 8 irregulars.
Switch to subjunctive.
Attach them to the end.
Use the short form.
Pronunciation
Stress
When pronouns are added, the stress shifts to the original syllable, often requiring an accent.
Command
¡Ven aquí! ↘
Falling intonation for direct commands.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Vin Diesel Has Ten Weapons, Eh? (Ven, Di, Sal, Haz, Ten, Ve, Pon, Sé).
Visual Association
Imagine Vin Diesel holding ten weapons and saying 'Ven, Di, Sal, Haz, Ten, Ve, Pon, Sé' to a friend.
Rhyme
Ven, Di, Sal, Haz, Ten, Ve, Pon, Sé, these are the commands you need to say!
Story
Vin Diesel walks into a room. He says 'Ven' (come) to his friend. He says 'Di' (tell) me the truth. He tells him to 'Sal' (leave) and 'Haz' (do) his work. He says 'Ten' (have) courage, 'Ve' (go) now, 'Pon' (put) your gear down, and 'Sé' (be) a hero.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 8 sentences using each of the 8 irregular commands in 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
Commands are very direct. Using the 'tú' form is common among friends.
Often softened with 'por favor' or 'a ver'.
Uses 'vos' instead of 'tú', so commands change to 'vení', 'decí', etc.
These forms come from Latin imperatives that were shortened over time due to high frequency.
Conversation Starters
¿Qué me dices?
¿Hazlo ya?
¿Ven conmigo?
¿Pon la música?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ (Venir) aquí.
Find and fix the mistake:
No hazlo.
___ (Hacer) la tarea.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Come here.
Answer starts with: a...
Affirmative command:
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: ¿Qué hago? B: ___ (Ir) a casa.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ (Venir) aquí.
Find and fix the mistake:
No hazlo.
___ (Hacer) la tarea.
la / di / verdad
Come here.
Affirmative command:
Decir -> ?
A: ¿Qué hago? B: ___ (Ir) a casa.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises___ la mesa para la cena, por favor.
todo / me / Di
Leave the room (informal).
Choose the correct option:
Match the pairs:
Pone la música ahora.
___ paciencia con el tráfico.
Choose the correct form:
el / abrigo / Pon / te
Go home (informal).
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
These are the most common verbs.
No, use formal commands.
Use the subjunctive.
Yes, they use 'vos'.
At the end.
Yes, in informal writing.
Ve is the command for ir.
Historical spelling.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Viens
French doesn't change for negative commands in the same way.
Komm
German doesn't have a separate negative command form.
Kite
Japanese is agglutinative, Spanish is inflectional.
Ta'al
Arabic uses different roots for commands.
Lai
Chinese has no verb conjugation.
Ven
N/A
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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