Spanish Phrase
¿Puedo dejarme el reloj puesto?
Meaning
The speaker is politely asking if they may keep their watch on, i.e., not take it off. It conveys a request for permission rather than a simple statement of fact.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are in a situation where taking off a watch might be expected – at a security checkpoint, in a medical exam, or when a host asks guests to remove accessories. It’s also handy in casual conversation when you simply don’t want to take the watch off.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Puedodejarmeelrelojpuesto?
Poder (present)
‘Puedo’ is the first‑person singular present of poder, used to ask for permission or ability.
Reflexive verb ‘dejarse’
‘Dejarme’ combines dejar (to leave/let) with the reflexive pronoun me, meaning ‘to let myself…’ or ‘to keep… on oneself’.
Adjective after noun
When an adjective describes a state (puesto = ‘worn, on’), it follows the noun: el reloj puesto.
Interrogative punctuation
Spanish uses opening (¿) and closing (?) question marks for all questions.
🗨In Conversation
¿Puedo dejarme el reloj puesto?
May I keep my watch on?
Sí, no hay problema.
Sure, no problem.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Puedo dejar el reloj puesto?
Missing the reflexive pronoun changes the meaning to ‘to leave the watch on (somewhere)’, not ‘to keep it on yourself’.
¿Puedo dejarme el reloj?
Without ‘puesto’ the sentence sounds incomplete because the state (worn) isn’t expressed.
¿Puedo dejarme el reloj en puesto?
The preposition ‘en’ is unnecessary; ‘puesto’ already conveys the idea of being on.
↔Alternatives
¿Me puedo quedar con el reloj puesto?
Can I stay with the watch on?
¿Puedo mantener el reloj puesto?
May I keep the watch on?
¿Está bien si dejo el reloj puesto?
Is it okay if I leave the watch on?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries it’s considered polite to remove jewelry, including watches, when entering a home or a place of worship. Asking permission first, as in this phrase, shows respect for the host’s customs. In professional settings (e.g., labs, hospitals) the request may be about safety regulations rather than etiquette.