lavémonos

Lavémonos is the affirmative imperative form of the Spanish verb lavarse in the nosotros (we) form. It is used to propose that the speaker and others perform the action of washing themselves together, and is commonly translated as “let us wash” or, in everyday context, “let’s wash our…”.

Morphology and pronunciation: Lavémonos is formed from the present subjunctive nosotros form lavemos, with the reflexive pronoun nos attached to the end and an accent placed on the e to indicate the correct stress: lavémonos. The construction is specific to affirmative commands in the nosotros form. Negative forms use nos lavemos with no-movement of the pronoun before the verb, as in “No nos lavemos” for “let us not wash.”

Usage and context: Lavémonos appears in instructions, safety guidelines, and conversational suggestions where a group action is appropriate. It is common in hygiene contexts, such as washing hands, face, or other parts of the body, as well as in collaborative activities that involve a shared action. In everyday speech, it can express inclusivity and shared responsibility.

Variants and related forms: Related forms include las palabras de obligación informal and formal imperatives for other persons, such as lavémonos (for emphasis in different tenses or moods) and tú or usted commands like lávate or lársense, depending on the subject and formality. Lavarse is a reflexive verb, and lavémonos represents one of its key reflexive imperative forms.

See also: Spanish grammar, reflexive verbs, imperative mood, nosotros commands.