3

I wanna translate the following into Spanish.

Let's make a website for remote sensing and photogrammetry real. Let's all press "commit" button!

I've been searching around for a while but seems that there is no equivalent for let's in Spanish.
Some special cases like let's go, let's make it happen, let's make love have been asked on other forums but seems there is no special grammar like in English?

Improve this question
1

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
11

You need to use the present subjunctive in the first person plural form for the action intended.

  • Hagamos clic en el botón «commit»
    Let's click on the button "commit"
  • Hablemos
    Let's talk
  • Pensemos en algo...
    Let's think about something...
Improve this answer
2
  • Then is this translation true? For the English sentence Let's make a website for remote sensing and photogrammetry real. Let's all press "commit" button! we should say Vamos a hacer un sitio para teledetección y fotogrametría real. Vamos a hacer clic todos en el botón «commit» in Spanish
    – Sepideh Abadpour
    Oct 10, 2016 at 13:18
  • it should be hagamos un sitio [...]
    – Brian H.
    Oct 27, 2017 at 10:58
10

I usually translate "let's" with the Spanish vamos a. Using the examples in guifa's answer (which is perfectly correct):

  • ¡Vamos a hacer clic en el botón "commit"!
  • ¡Vamos a hablar!
  • ¡Vamos a pensar en algo!

A special case would be the translation of "let's go!":

  • ¡Vamos!

Please note that this answer may be limited to some regions. At least I know that it is valid in Spain. In other regions, as commented below, you can use vámonos, vayamos or just stick to the subjunctive as pointed by guifa.

Also note the use of the exclamation marks, because if you don't write them, it seems that you are just saying "we're going to press the commit button" (vamos a pulsar el botón commit), as in response to the question "¿qué vais a hacer?".

Improve this answer
11
  • 2
    Dear downvoter, I sincerely don't mind to be downvoted, but could you at least explain why my answer deserves such a fate so I can have a chance to improve it?
    – Charlie
    Oct 3, 2016 at 14:18
  • It's interesting to note that the form vamos in this case is actually subjunctive (cf. Portuguese vá, vás, vá, vamos, vades, vão), but has stuck around almost exclusively in Spanish in this command-ish form.
    – user0721090601
    Oct 3, 2016 at 14:52
  • @guifa actually I'd swear I've seen it as 1st pers. pl. of the imperative case in some grammar book.
    – Rafael
    Oct 3, 2016 at 16:04
  • 1
    @rafael that's more of a terminological issue. Traditional Spanish grammar only has three imperative forms for each verb (all affirmative): tú, vos, vosotros (the ones for ir are ve, andá, and id). The other forms (negative, formal, and 1st person plural) are considered to be uses of the subjuntivo exhortativo, but functionally, they're commands, and so some grammars will —not at all incorrectly, since it's more of a "how you define them" thing— teach them as imperative.
    – user0721090601
    Oct 3, 2016 at 16:14
  • 1
    @sepideh according to the Spanish rules, you can say "hagamos todas clic" if you are all women. Otherwise, use "hagamos todos". The rest seems OK. And the exclamation mark in the second verb is because I wanted to give emphasys only to the second part of the sentence. But you can put that mark at the start instead, or just get rid of them.
    – Charlie
    Oct 10, 2016 at 13:52

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.