Spanish for Returning Borrowed Supplies Politely: "Aquí tienes tu pincel" and More
Learn to return borrowed items in Spanish with gratitude and politeness. Practice key phrases like "Aquí tienes tu pincel" and "Gracias por prestármelo," plus questions for staff.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Returning something you borrowed is a common social situation, especially in a creative group. In Spanish, the right words show respect and maintain good relationships. This lesson teaches you how to hand back an item politely, express thanks, and ask staff about return procedures. You'll learn reusable patterns that work for brushes, books, tools, and more. We'll focus on Latin American Spanish, with notes on regional variations. By the end, you'll confidently say "Aquí tienes tu pincel" and "Gracias por prestármelo," and you'll know how to handle similar returns.
By the end, you can…
- return a borrowed item politely using "Aquí tienes..." and express gratitude with "Gracias por prestármelo."
- ask staff or group members about return procedures using appropriate questions.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Aquí tienes tu pincel.
Here is your brush.
ah-KEE TYEH-nehs too PEEN-sel
Use when handing an item directly to someone. "Tienes" is informal; for formal, use "Aquí tiene su pincel."
Gracias por prestármelo.
Thanks for lending it to me.
GRAH-syahs por prehs-TAHR-meh-loh
The pronoun "lo" attaches to the infinitive "prestar." For a feminine object, say "prestármela."
¿Te lo devuelvo ahora?
Shall I return it to you now?
teh loh deh-BWEL-voh ah-OH-rah
A polite way to ask if the person wants the item back immediately. Use "Se lo devuelvo" for formal.
¿Dónde debo devolver esto?
Where should I return this?
DOHN-deh DEH-boh deh-bol-BEHR EHS-toh
Useful for asking staff about the return location. "Esto" is neuter and works when you don't know the gender of the item.
¿Necesitas algo más?
Do you need anything else?
neh-seh-SEE-tahs AHL-goh mahs
Shows willingness to help further. Use "Necesita" for formal.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern "Aquí tienes + [item]" is a straightforward way to hand something over. It literally means "Here you have," but it's the natural equivalent of "Here is." For example, "Aquí tienes tu libro" (Here is your book) or "Aquí tienes las llaves" (Here are the keys). To be more formal, switch to "Aquí tiene" with a third-person verb. If you're returning multiple items, you can say "Aquí tienes tus pinceles." Remember to match the possessive: "tu" for informal, "su" for formal.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you're physically returning an item to its owner or to a staff member. "Gracias por prestármelo" is perfect for thanking someone who lent you something. If you're returning to a communal supply closet, you might say "Devuelvo este pincel" (I'm returning this brush) to a staff member. In a creative group, it's common to return items at the end of a session. Always add a smile and direct eye contact to convey sincerity. In some regions, people might say "Te lo regreso" instead of "Te lo devuelvo," especially in Mexico, but both are understood.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Hola, Ana. Aquí tienes tu pincel. Gracias por prestármelo.
Hi, Ana. Here is your brush. Thanks for lending it to me.OH-lah, AH-nah. ah-KEE TYEH-nehs too PEEN-sel. GRAH-syahs por prehs-TAHR-meh-loh.¡De nada! ¿Te sirvió para tu proyecto?
You're welcome! Did it work for your project?deh NAH-dah. teh seer-BYOH PAH-rah too pro-YEK-tohSí, mucho. ¿Necesitas algo más?
Yes, a lot. Do you need anything else?see, MOO-choh. neh-seh-SEE-tahs AHL-goh mahsNo, gracias. ¿Puedes devolver los otros materiales a la mesa?
No, thanks. Can you return the other materials to the table?noh, GRAH-syahs. PWEH-dehs deh-bol-BEHR lohs OH-trohs mah-teh-RYAH-lehs ah lah MEH-sahA little context goes a long way
In Latin American Spanish, politeness often involves softening requests with questions and using "por favor" and "gracias." When returning items, a brief thank-you is expected. In more formal contexts, such as with older group members or staff, use "usted" forms: "Aquí tiene su pincel" and "Gracias por prestármelo." In Spain, "os" and "vosotros" are used for plural informal, but in Latin America, "ustedes" is standard. Also, in some regions, people might say "Te lo agradezco" instead of "Gracias," but both are fine. Avoid assuming everyone uses the same gestures; a simple verbal thanks is always appropriate.
One thing to watch for
Saying "Gracias por prestarme" without the object pronoun, which sounds incomplete.
Try this instead: Include the direct object pronoun: "Gracias por prestármelo" (for masculine) or "prestármela" (for feminine). For example, if you borrowed a brush (pincel, masculine), say "Gracias por prestármelo." If you borrowed a book (libro, masculine), same. If you borrowed a palette (paleta, feminine), say "Gracias por prestármela."
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you return a borrowed pen (pluma) to a friend, using the pattern "Aquí tienes..."?
Show a sample answer
Aquí tienes tu pluma.
This uses the informal "tienes" and the possessive "tu" to match the friend. For formal, it would be "Aquí tiene su pluma."
2What phrase would you use to thank someone for lending you a book (libro)?
Show a sample answer
Gracias por prestármelo.
The pronoun "lo" refers to "libro" (masculine). If it were a feminine noun like "revista," you'd say "prestármela."
3How would you ask a staff member where to return a borrowed item, using formal address?
Show a sample answer
¿Dónde debo devolver esto?
This is neutral and polite. You could also say "¿Dónde puedo devolver esto?" Both are correct; "debo" implies obligation, while "puedo" asks permission.
When returning borrowed supplies in Spanish, use "Aquí tienes/tiene..." to hand over the item, and "Gracias por prestármelo/la" to thank the lender. Ask staff with "¿Dónde debo devolver esto?" and adjust formality with "tú" or "usted."
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