The Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands) of Servir is used to give orders or make requests related to serving or providing something, for example Sirve la cena, por favor. (Serve dinner, please.)

This verb follows the e to i stem-changing conjugation pattern, where the stem vowel changes from ‘e’ to ‘i’ in certain forms.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Servir (to serve) in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands) tense (Castilian Spanish):

Servir generally means to serve or provide service, but has several different meanings in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands), some of which might surprise you.

To serve food or drinks: for example, Sirve la cena, por favor. (Serve dinner, please.)

To provide a service or function: for example, Sirve de guía al grupo. (Serve as a guide for the group.)

To be useful or helpful (idiomatic): for example, Sírveme otro vaso de vino. (Serve me another glass of wine.)

To attend or wait on someone (idiomatic): for example, Sírveme la comida en la mesa. (Serve me the food at the table.)

To provide or supply something (colloquial): for example, Sírveme un poco más de esa tarta. (Serve me a bit more of that cake.)

To be good or suitable for a purpose (idiomatic): for example, Sírveme ese plato hondo. (Serve me that deep plate.)

To have sexual relations with someone (vulgar): for example, ¡Sírveme esta noche, nena! (Serve me tonight, baby!)

Examples

Examples of Servir in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands)

¡Sirve la cena, por favor! (Please serve dinner!)

Para pedir en un restaurante: Sírvanos dos platos de enchiladas, por favor. (To order at a restaurant: Please serve us two plates of enchiladas.)

Instrucciones en una receta: Primero, sirva el arroz en platos hondos. (Instructions in a recipe: First, serve the rice onto deep plates.)

En una fiesta: ¡Sirvan más bebidas a los invitados! (At a party: Serve more drinks to the guests!)

A un mesero: Disculpe, ¿podría servirnos la cuenta, por favor? (To a waiter: Excuse me, could you please serve us the bill?)

Instrucciones en clase de cocina: Ahora sirvan porciones iguales en cada plato. (Instructions in a cooking class: Now serve equal portions onto each plate.)

En un bufet: Sírvete lo que quieras, hay mucha comida. (At a buffet: Serve yourself whatever you want, there’s plenty of food.)

A un camarero: Por favor, sírvame una cerveza fría. (To a waiter: Please serve me a cold beer.)

Instrucciones en un restaurante: Sírvanse ustedes mismos de la barra de ensaladas. (Instructions at a restaurant: Help yourselves from the salad bar.)

En una reunión familiar: Mamá, sírveme un poco más de ese delicioso guisado. (At a family gathering: Mom, serve me a bit more of that delicious stew.)

A un anfitrión: Sírvanos un poco de vino tinto, por favor. (To a host: Please serve us some red wine.)

Instrucciones en un evento: Sirvan los aperitivos ahora, por favor. (Instructions at an event: Please serve the appetizers now.)

A un mesero: Disculpe, ¿podría servirme un vaso de agua? (To a waiter: Excuse me, could you serve me a glass of water?)

En una boda: Sírvanse de la mesa de postres, hay mucha variedad. (At a wedding: Help yourselves from the dessert table, there’s a great variety.)

Instrucciones en un restaurante familiar: Niños, sírvanse ustedes mismos. (Instructions at a family restaurant: Kids, serve yourselves.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Servir (to serve) in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands) tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Imperative mood is also known as the Command Form, Affirmative Command Mood, or Direct Command Form in English, and as Modo Imperativo, Imperativo Afirmativo, Mandatos Afirmativos, or Forma de Mandato in Spanish.