Spanish Phrase
No te relaciones con desconocidos.
Meaning
A firm piece of advice meaning ‘Don’t associate with strangers.’ It is often used as a safety warning, especially for children or in situations where trust is uncertain.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving a warning about personal safety, teaching kids about strangers, or reminding someone to stay cautious in unfamiliar environments such as online chats, travel, or night outings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Noterelacionescondesconocidos.
Negative particle
‘No’ precedes the verb to make the command negative.
Reflexive pronoun
‘te’ indicates that the action is directed toward the listener (you).
Negative imperative form
With ‘no’, the verb takes the present subjunctive (relaciones) instead of the affirmative imperative form (relaciónate).
Preposition ‘con’
Links the verb to the noun phrase ‘desconocidos’ (with strangers).
Plural noun ‘desconocidos’
Used here as a masculine plural noun meaning ‘strangers’ or ‘unknown people’.
🗨In Conversation
¿Puedo hablar con esa persona que está allí?
Can I talk to that person over there?
No te relaciones con desconocidos.
Don’t associate with strangers.
✕Common Mistakes
No te relacionas con desconocidos.
‘relacionas’ is present indicative; the correct negative command uses the subjunctive ‘relaciones’.
No te relacionar con desconocidos.
The infinitive cannot be used in a command; you need the subjunctive form.
No te relaciones con desconocido.
If you want a singular form, you must also change the article and verb agreement.
↔Alternatives
No hables con extraños.
Don’t talk to strangers.
No te acerques a personas que no conoces.
Don’t get close to people you don’t know.
Evita relacionarte con gente que no conoces.
Avoid getting involved with people you don’t know.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, safety campaigns for children often use the word ‘desconocido’ rather than ‘extraño’ because it sounds slightly more formal and less harsh. The phrase is common in schools, community centers, and online safety tutorials, and it carries a tone of caring authority rather than outright prohibition.