Spanish Phrase
Cambia las pilas cada año.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone to replace the batteries once a year. It’s a practical reminder often given for devices that lose power over time, such as remote controls, watches, or toys.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving maintenance advice, reminding a family member, or writing a short instruction manual about battery‑powered items.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cambialaspilascadaaño
Imperative (tú) – Cambia
Cambia is the informal second‑person singular imperative of cambiar; it is used for direct commands or advice.
Definite article + noun – las pilas
las matches the feminine plural noun pilas (batteries); the article agrees in gender and number.
Frequency expression – cada año
cada is always singular, even when the noun that follows is plural; it means ‘each’ or ‘every’.
🗨In Conversation
¿Por qué mi control no funciona?
Why isn’t my remote working?
Cambia las pilas cada año.
Change the batteries every year.
✕Common Mistakes
Cambias las pilas cada año.
cambias is present‑indicative; the command needs the imperative Cambia.
Cambia los pilas cada año.
pilas is feminine, so the article must be las, not los.
Cambia las pilas cada años.
cada never takes a plural noun; it stays singular.
↔Alternatives
Renueva las baterías cada año.
Renew the batteries every year.
Sustituye las pilas anualmente.
Replace the batteries annually.
Cambia las baterías una vez al año.
Change the batteries once a year.
Cultural Tip
In most Spanish‑speaking households the word pilas is the everyday term for AA/AAA cells, while baterías sounds a bit more technical and is used for larger rechargeable packs. Keeping a small stash of spare pilas is common, and many people set a calendar reminder to change them yearly.