Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Translations


¿Qué me le pasó?

 

If you need help translating a sentence or longer piece of text, use this forum. For translations or definitions of a single word or idiom, use the vocabulary forum.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old November 18, 2021, 10:40 PM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,810
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
¿Qué me le pasó?

This was used to mean, what happened to you?
I have never seen this usage before. Is it commonly used?
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias.
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old November 19, 2021, 08:15 PM
wrholt's Avatar
wrholt wrholt is offline
Sapphire
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 1,401
Native Language: US English
wrholt is on a distinguished road
I think native speakers will have to chime in on this, but:

The range of possible uses for object pronouns in Spanish (me, nos, te, os, lo, la, le, los, las, les, se) is a LOT wider than the the range of possible uses for object pronouns in English (me, us, you, him, her, it, them).

Assuming that the sentence "¿Qué me le pasó?" is a valid sentence, I think it has 2 indirect object pronouns. Le is the indirect object pronoun that we expect, filling the role of the dativo de interés. Me is an additional indirect object pronoun filling a different role, perhaps one identified in some sources as dativo ético: I think that the intended meaning is that "I" am in some manner affected by whatever it was that happened to you.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old November 23, 2021, 03:33 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is online now
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,038
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
I agree with Wrholt.
This use of the "me" is a colloquial way to express I'm concerned about you, I care about you and the things that happen to you are as if they happen to me.
I haven't heard it used like this in Mexico, but I've heard it in Colombian telenovelas.

Yet, you may hear some Mexican mothers talk about the things their children do as if they were doing those things to aggravate them:
- La niña no me come. -> My daughter won't eat as much as I'd like her to, and I live it like a personal offense. Maybe the child is sick, but the mother expresses her worries as if the child had an intention to hurt her.
- Juanito me reprobó tres materias. -> My son failed three subjects in school, and I'm expressing it as if he did it to bother me.
- Los escuincles se fueron a una fiesta y me regresaron borrachos. -> My kids went to a party and they got drunk "just because they know that makes me mad".
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Salir al paso dupond Idioms & Sayings 3 May 14, 2018 02:25 AM
Tírate un paso Premium Vocabulary 1 November 02, 2013 05:09 PM
Pasó vs Pasaste southUS Translations 4 January 16, 2012 11:24 AM
Dar paso a ROBINDESBOIS Idioms & Sayings 1 June 10, 2010 05:45 PM
De paso poli Idioms & Sayings 21 September 03, 2009 10:12 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:56 PM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X