2

How would one translate the "so" in the following expressions:

I am so loving it.

You are so screwed.

This is so not good.

I know "so" translates as tan but will this literal translation work in the above scenarios? Are the following sentences correct:

Estoy tan amandolo.

Estás tan cogido.

Este tan no está bueno.

Improve this question
3
  • 2
    Estoy amándolo tanto. Es incorrecto decir "estoy tan amándolo". Por otra parte, decir "Estás tan cogida" no tiene sentido en la muy noble y muy leal lengua española. Nosotros no estamos pensando siempre en lo mismo, como los estadounidenses; y cuando en ello pensamos, no lo proclamamos impúdicamente a los cuatro vientos. Ni siquiera los franceses, que intentan seguir siendo finos en toda circunstancia, pase lo que pase.
    – user55514
    Oct 19, 2015 at 6:07
  • 1
    "screwed" is not very rude; you can say it on TV. The literal equivalent in Spain ("jodido"), is way more rude (in TV I'd say 18+ rated films). You will definitely hear it in a bar, and likely in an informal conversation between colleagues. "Cogido" is purely South American, and I don't really know how they take it, but I believe it is of similar or greater rudeness. I think a closer translation would be "la he cagado", or, if in respectable company, "la he fastidiado".
    – Davidmh
    Oct 19, 2015 at 11:35
  • 1
    Thanks, Davidmh. It´s true we say "jodido"; but never "cogido" whose meaning is "taken", in Spain. Anyway i misunderstood "screwed" for it sexual meaning. In the sense you explained it it´s still better to say "la hemos liado; la he liado" yet in a slang mode. Sorry for my deficient English.
    – user55514
    Oct 19, 2015 at 14:17

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
3

There is no translation, that I can think of. Using the word "so" in your given context is using it as a multiplier. One is not just screwed, but rather sooo... screwed.

This food is good!

vs

This food is sooo good!

The extra o's indicate the prolonged stretching of the vowel

The closest thing to that in Spanish is with superlatives, riquisisisisimo.

¡Esta comida está rica!

vs

¡Esta comida está riquísima!

... adding more sis to stress it more.

http://www.spanishdict.com/topics/show/52

EDIT

It may only be regional to Mexico, but another way to translate it would be with bien instead of tan as you've tried in your OP.

You are so screwed.

Estás bien cogido.

Improve this answer
4
  • Unfortunately this method only works if "so" is qualifying an adjective. But it doesn't work with sentences like I presented (e.g., "I'm so loving it") where it qualifies a verb instead. It also doesn't seem to work with constructs like "this is so not good."
    – TheLearner
    Oct 19, 2015 at 6:37
  • Yes unfortunately,... though there is another method, check my update.
    – dockeryZ
    Oct 19, 2015 at 6:40
  • As for the McDonald's-esque phrase I'm so.. lovin' it, you're only going to get by with Estoy amándolo mucho
    – dockeryZ
    Oct 19, 2015 at 6:42
  • Estás bien cogido. Or, for Spanish from Spain: Estás bien jodido
    – Victor
    Oct 19, 2015 at 13:19
2

Let's check them case by case:

Estoy tan amandolo.

You can't use tan before a gerund, so you must put it at the end instead. This forces you to use tanto, instead of the tan apocopation. On the other hand, "Estoy amándolo" sounds a bit odd to begin with, as you'd probably say "Lo amo" on a normal context.

Correct form:

Lo amo tanto.

Estás tan cogido.

This is actually fine. Just take into account that cogido is a regionalism, and in Spain it wouldn't mean what you expect.

For Spain, you would use:

¡Estás tan jodido!

Este tan no está bueno.

This is the hardest one. You can't use tan before a negative, so the only correct variation with "tan" here would be something like: "Este no está tan bueno", but it would have the opposite meaning of what you wanted (ie: instead of "This is so not good.", it would mean "This is not so good.").

The best option for this one would be to change the phrase so you don't need the no. For example:

Esto está tan malo.

Finally, to answer dockeryZ's edit,

¡Esta comida está tan rica!

is commonly used, at least in Spain.

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    In Spain, "coger", always takes in the plain.That is: "coger" does mean "to take" and not a sexual meaning. Same thing in France : "prendre" has the meaning ot "to take" though there is a band in Portland, Pink Martini, i guess; they sing some songs in french with "prendre" = "to take" with this old meaning; a poem from Apollinaire, i think. youtube.com/watch?v=FeVJbhXuRek
    – user55514
    Oct 19, 2015 at 11:22
  • 1
    youtube.com/watch?v=R6E-B5RQUbE
    – user55514
    Oct 19, 2015 at 11:58
2

En Colombia, la palabra que usamos equivalente a so en inglés y en el mismo contexto, es tan.

This is so good! => ¡Esto es tan bueno!

Your parents are so lovely! => ¡Tus padres son tan queridos!

She is so hot! => ¡Ella es tan buena!

He is so grumpy! => ¡Él es tan gruñón!

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Gracias por todas estas respuestas. Ten en cuenta que la ortografía es importante, así que sería bueno que añadieras tildes en tus respuestas : )
    – fedorqui
    Oct 19, 2015 at 15:48
2

Las traducciones directas a lo que quieres decir serían:

I am so loving it. - Lo estoy amando tanto.

You are so screwed. - Estás tan jodido./Estás bien jodido.

This is so not good. - Esto es tan malo.

Improve this answer
1

Curiosamente, en español, también se utiliza el so, para potenciar las cualidades del adjetivo o del nombre a que antecede:

"I am so loving it."

"You are so screwed."

"This is so not good."

  • Pido disculpas si doy una mala traducción, pero intentaré hacerlo bien.

"Estoy so enamorado de eso."

"Estás so liado."

"Esto no es nada bueno."

Claro que no se utiliza normalmente, pero es valido.

  • Ahora sí lo que buscas es un uso más cotidiano, sería:

"Eso me tiene muy enamorado."

"Estás bastante jodido."

"Esto no es nada bueno./Eso esta muy mal."

Fuente: so1. RAE

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.