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the judge gave him a three-year prison sentence

Толкование Перевод

1 imponer

v.

1 to set (moda).

2 to be imposing.

3 to impose, to enforce, to compel, to foist.

Ella impone el reglamento She imposes the rules.

4 to stipulate, to set, to determine, to lay down.

Elsa impone el plan de acción Elsa stipulates the plan of action.

5 to be imposed upon.

Se me impuso una regla estúpida A stupid rule was imposed on me.

* * *

imponer

Conjugation model [ PONER], like link=poner poner (pp impuesto,-a)

► verbo transitivo

1 (ley, límite, sanción) to impose

2 (obediencia) to exact

3 (respeto) to inspire

4 FINANZAS (cantidad) to deposit

► verbo intransitivo

1 (asustar) to be frightening

► verbo pronominal imponerse

1 to impose one's authority (a, on)

2 (obligarse) to force oneself to

3 (prevalecer) to prevail

4 (predominar) to become fashionable

* * *

verb

1) to impose

2) exact

•

- imponerse

* * *
( pp impuesto)
1. VT

1) (=poner) [+ castigo, obligación] to impose; [+ tarea] to set

imponer sanciones comerciales a un país — to impose trade sanctions against o on a country

no quiero imponerte nada, solo darte un buen consejo — I don't want to force you to do anything o I don't want to impose anything on you, just to give you some good advice

el juez le impuso una pena de tres años de prisión — the judge gave him a three-year prison sentence

no le impusieron ningún castigo al portero — the goalkeeper was not penalized

2) frm (=conceder) [+ medalla] to award

a la princesa le impusieron el nombre de Mercedes — the princess was given the name Mercedes, the princess was named Mercedes

3) (=hacer prevalecer) [+ voluntad, costumbre] to impose; [+ norma] to enforce; [+ miedo] to instil; [+ condición] to lay down, impose; [+ enseñanza, uso] to make compulsory

trató de imponer su punto de vista — he tried to impose his viewpoint

su trabajo le impone un ritmo de vida muy acelerado — her work forces her to lead a very fast lifestyle

quieren imponer la enseñanza del catalán — they want to make the teaching of Catalan compulsory

han impuesto por la fuerza el velo a las mujeres — women have been forced to wear the veil

han impuesto a la fuerza la enseñanza religiosa — they have enforced religious education

• imponer la moda — to set the trend

este año han impuesto la moda del acid jazz — this year acid jazz is the trend

algunos creadores japoneses imponen su moda en Occidente — some Japanese designers have successfully brought their fashions over to the West

• imponer respeto — to command respect

la autoridad siempre impone respeto — authority always commands respect

tu padre me impone mucho respeto — I find your father very intimidating

• imponer el ritmo — to set the pace

4) (Com, Econ) [+ dinero] to deposit; [+ impuesto] to put (a, sobre on)
levy (a, sobre on)
hemos impuesto tres millones a plazo fijo — we have deposited three million for a fixed term

han impuesto nuevas tasas sobre los servicios básicos — they have put o levied new taxes on essential services

5) (=instruir)

imponer a algn en algo — to instruct sb in sth

6) (Rel)

imponer las manos sobre algn — to lay hands on sb

7) Chile to pay (in contributions), pay (in Social Security)

2. VI

1) (=intimidar) [persona] to command respect; [edificio] to be imposing; [arma] to be intimidating

su forma de hablar en público impone — his style of public speaking commands respect

el castillo imponía un poco al entrar — the castle was rather imposing as you went in

¿no te impone dormir solo? — don't you find it rather scary sleeping on your own?

2) Chile to pay contributions, pay one's Social Security

3.

See:

imponerse

* * *
1.
verbo transitivo

1)

a) (frml) <castigo/multa> to impose (frml)

imponer el toque de queda — to impose a curfew

le impusieron una pena de año de cárcel — he was sentenced to one year in prison

b) (frml) <gravamen/impuesto> to impose, levy (frml)

c) < obligación> to impose, place; < opinión> to impose; <reglas/condiciones> to impose, enforce; < tarea> to set

impusieron el uso obligatorio del cinturón de seguridad — safety belts were made compulsory

d) < respeto> to command; < temor> to inspire, instill*

e) < moda> to set

2) (frml) (+ me/te/le etc) <condecoración/medalla> to confer; < nombre> to give

3) ( informar)

imponer a alguien de or en algo — to inform somebody of o about something

4) (Esp frml) <dinero/fondos> to deposit

5) (Chi) ( a la seguridad social) to contribute
2.
imponer vi (infundir respeto, admiración) to be imposing

su mera presencia impone — he has an imposing presence
3.
imponerse v pron

1)

a) (refl) <horario/meta> to set oneself

b) idea to become established

c) (frml) cambio/decisión to be imperative (frml)

d) color/estilo to come into fashion

2) ( hacerse respetar) to assert oneself o one's authority

3) (frml) ( vencer) to win

se impondrá el sentido común — common sense will prevail

imponerse a alguien/algo — to defeat o beat somebody/something

4) (frml) ( informarse)

imponerse de algo — to acquaint oneself with something

5) (Méx) ( acostumbrarse)

imponerse A algo — to become accustomed to something

* * *

= be awe-inspiring, dictate, lay on, impose, enjoin, inflict, enforce, thrust on/upon, mete out.

Ex. Yet the speed of action, the intricacy of trails, the detail of mental pictures, is awe-inspiring beyond all else in nature.

Ex. Also, economy dictates that every possible entry cannot be printed.

Ex. Those are, as I said in another context, monickers that were laid on them by ignorant and, I would say, mean-minded authors for their own purposes.

Ex. Results suggest that the structure imposed on a small document collection by an automatically produced subject representation is unrelated to the structure imposed on the documents by relevance relationships.

Ex. Heightened interest in the nation's founding and in the intentions of the founders enjoins law librarians to provide reference service for research in the history of the constitutional period.

Ex. This article discusses the budget cuts inflicted on Australian libraries.

Ex. Economic necessity will enforce an improvement in the provision of patent information in Hungary.

Ex. Different responsibilities will be thrust upon librarians as their work becomes an increasingly vital complement to academic work, in particular assisting academics and students alike in creating order out of the chaos that is the Internet.

Ex. Governmental intervention has been criticized for the lenience of penalties meted out & the lack of a cohesive strategy.

----

* imponer a = intrude on.

* imponer autoridad = lay down + the law.

* imponer castigo = mete out + punishment.

* imponer condena = impose + prison sentence.

* imponer exigencias a = place + demands on.

* imponer impuestos = impose + VAT.

* imponer multa = impose + penalty.

* imponer orden = impose + order, bring + order.

* imponer orden en donde hay caos = bring + order out of chaos.

* imponer + Posesivo + autoridad = pull + rank.

* imponer recortes = impose + cuts.

* imponer respeto = stand in + awe.

* imponer restricciones a = impose + limits on.

* imponer sanción económica = levy + fine.

* imponer sanciones = exercise + sanctions.

* imponerse = prevail, obtrude (into), take + hold, put + Posesivo + foot down, overrule.

* imponerse a Uno mismo = self-mandate.

* imponerse disciplina = discipline + Reflexivo.

* imponer sentencia = mete out + sentence.

* imponerse una tarea = task + Reflexivo.

* imponer una carga = place + burden.

* imponer una condición = place + limitation.

* imponer una limitación = place + restraint, impose + limitation.

* imponer una limitación (sobre) = place + constraint (on/upon).

* imponer una limitación sobre Algo = impose + constraint upon.

* imponer una norma = place + prescription.

* imponer una restricción = place + requirement, place + restraint.

* imponer una restricción sobre Algo = impose + constraint upon.

* imponer una sanción = impose + sanction.

* imponer una tarea = task.

* imponer una tarea a Alguien = foist + Nombre + on + Alguien + as a duty.

* * *
1.
verbo transitivo

1)

a) (frml) <castigo/multa> to impose (frml)

imponer el toque de queda — to impose a curfew

le impusieron una pena de año de cárcel — he was sentenced to one year in prison

b) (frml) <gravamen/impuesto> to impose, levy (frml)

c) < obligación> to impose, place; < opinión> to impose; <reglas/condiciones> to impose, enforce; < tarea> to set

impusieron el uso obligatorio del cinturón de seguridad — safety belts were made compulsory

d) < respeto> to command; < temor> to inspire, instill*

e) < moda> to set

2) (frml) (+ me/te/le etc) <condecoración/medalla> to confer; < nombre> to give

3) ( informar)

imponer a alguien de or en algo — to inform somebody of o about something

4) (Esp frml) <dinero/fondos> to deposit

5) (Chi) ( a la seguridad social) to contribute
2.
imponer vi (infundir respeto, admiración) to be imposing

su mera presencia impone — he has an imposing presence
3.
imponerse v pron

1)

a) (refl) <horario/meta> to set oneself

b) idea to become established

c) (frml) cambio/decisión to be imperative (frml)

d) color/estilo to come into fashion

2) ( hacerse respetar) to assert oneself o one's authority

3) (frml) ( vencer) to win

se impondrá el sentido común — common sense will prevail

imponerse a alguien/algo — to defeat o beat somebody/something

4) (frml) ( informarse)

imponerse de algo — to acquaint oneself with something

5) (Méx) ( acostumbrarse)

imponerse A algo — to become accustomed to something

* * *

= be awe-inspiring, dictate, lay on, impose, enjoin, inflict, enforce, thrust on/upon, mete out.

Ex: Yet the speed of action, the intricacy of trails, the detail of mental pictures, is awe-inspiring beyond all else in nature.

Ex: Also, economy dictates that every possible entry cannot be printed.

Ex: Those are, as I said in another context, monickers that were laid on them by ignorant and, I would say, mean-minded authors for their own purposes.

Ex: Results suggest that the structure imposed on a small document collection by an automatically produced subject representation is unrelated to the structure imposed on the documents by relevance relationships.

Ex: Heightened interest in the nation's founding and in the intentions of the founders enjoins law librarians to provide reference service for research in the history of the constitutional period.

Ex: This article discusses the budget cuts inflicted on Australian libraries.

Ex: Economic necessity will enforce an improvement in the provision of patent information in Hungary.

Ex: Different responsibilities will be thrust upon librarians as their work becomes an increasingly vital complement to academic work, in particular assisting academics and students alike in creating order out of the chaos that is the Internet.

Ex: Governmental intervention has been criticized for the lenience of penalties meted out & the lack of a cohesive strategy.

* imponer a = intrude on.

* imponer autoridad = lay down + the law.

* imponer castigo = mete out + punishment.

* imponer condena = impose + prison sentence.

* imponer exigencias a = place + demands on.

* imponer impuestos = impose + VAT.

* imponer multa = impose + penalty.

* imponer orden = impose + order, bring + order.

* imponer orden en donde hay caos = bring + order out of chaos.

* imponer + Posesivo + autoridad = pull + rank.

* imponer recortes = impose + cuts.

* imponer respeto = stand in + awe.

* imponer restricciones a = impose + limits on.

* imponer sanción económica = levy + fine.

* imponer sanciones = exercise + sanctions.

* imponerse = prevail, obtrude (into), take + hold, put + Posesivo + foot down, overrule.

* imponerse a Uno mismo = self-mandate.

* imponerse disciplina = discipline + Reflexivo.

* imponer sentencia = mete out + sentence.

* imponerse una tarea = task + Reflexivo.

* imponer una carga = place + burden.

* imponer una condición = place + limitation.

* imponer una limitación = place + restraint, impose + limitation.

* imponer una limitación (sobre) = place + constraint (on/upon).

* imponer una limitación sobre Algo = impose + constraint upon.

* imponer una norma = place + prescription.

* imponer una restricción = place + requirement, place + restraint.

* imponer una restricción sobre Algo = impose + constraint upon.

* imponer una sanción = impose + sanction.

* imponer una tarea = task.

* imponer una tarea a Alguien = foist + Nombre + on + Alguien + as a duty.

* * *

imponer [ E22 ]

vt

A

1 ( frml); ‹castigo/pena/multa› to impose ( frml)

el gobierno impuso el toque de queda the government imposed a curfew

le impusieron una pena de 20 años de cárcel he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, they imposed a 20-year prison sentence on him

2 ( frml); ‹gravamen/impuesto› to impose, levy ( frml)

3 ‹obligación› to impose, place; ‹opinión› to impose; ‹reglas/condiciones› to impose, enforce; ‹tarea› to set

no lo sienten como una cosa impuesta they don't see it as an imposition o as something imposed upon them

impusieron el uso obligatorio del cinturón de seguridad safety belts were made compulsory

no te estoy tratando de imponer nada, sólo te estoy advirtiendo de un posible peligro I'm not trying to tell you what to do, I'm just warning you of a possible danger

siempre tiene que imponer su punto de vista he always has to impose his point of view

4 ‹respeto› to command; ‹temor› to inspire, instill*

5 ‹moda› to set

B ( frml) (+ me/te/le etc) ‹condecoración› to confer; ‹nombre› to give; ‹medalla› to confer

le impuso la máxima condecoración civil he conferred the highest civil award on o upon him

se le impuso el nombre de `calle de los Mártires' it was given the name of `street of the Martyrs'

C (informar) imponer a algn DE or EN algo to inform sb OF o ABOUT sth

D ( Relig):

imponerle las manos a algn to lay one's hands upon o on sb

E ( Esp frml) ‹dinero/fondos› to deposit

F ( Chi) (a la seguridad social) to contribute

■ imponer

vi

(infundir respeto, admiración) to be imposing

su mera presencia impone he has an imposing presence, his mere presence is imposing

su dominio de la situación impone his command of the situation is impressive

■ imponerse

v pron

A

1 ( refl) ‹horario› to set oneself; ‹régimen› to impose … on oneself

2 «idea» to become established

3 ( frml); «cambio/decisión» to be imperative ( frml)

se impone tomar una decisión hoy mismo it is imperative that a decision is o be made today

se impone la necesidad de un cambio a change is imperative, there is an urgent need for a change

4 ‹color/estilo› to come into fashion, become fashionable

este invierno se han impuesto las faldas por debajo de la rodilla skirts below the knee have become fashionable o have come into fashion this winter

B (hacerse respetar) to assert oneself o one's authority

C ( frml) (vencer) to win

se impuso por puntos he won on points

se impondrá el sentido común common sense will prevail

imponerse A algn/algo to defeat o beat sb/sth

se impusieron a China por siete carreras a dos they beat China by seven runs to two

D ( frml) (enterarse) imponerse DE algo to acquaint oneself WITH sth

E ( Méx) (acostumbrarse) imponerse A algo; to become accustomed TO sth

* * *

imponer ( conjugate imponer) verbo transitivo (frml)
a) to impose (frml);

◊ le impusieron una pena de un año de cárcel he was sentenced to one year in prison

b) ‹ respeto› to command;

‹ temor› to inspire, instill^{( conjugate instill)}
c) ‹ moda› to set

imponerse verbo pronominal
1
a) ( refl) ‹horario/meta› to set oneself

b) [ idea] to become established

c) [color/estilo] to come into fashion

2 ( hacerse respetar) to assert oneself o one's authority
3 (frml) ( vencer) to win;
◊ se impondrá el sentido común common sense will prevail

imponer verbo transitivo
1 to impose: impuso su criterio contra el de todos, she imposed her viewpoint over that of others
2 (sobrecoger) to be impressive: la visión de la sangre le impone mucho, he can't stand the sight of blood
(suscitar respeto) to inspire respect
3 Fin to deposit
' imponer' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
sancionar
- impuse
- poner
English:
apply
- compel
- dictate
- enforce
- impose
- keep
- levy
- reimpose
- sanction
- command
- embargo
- inflict
- mete out

* * *

imponer

♦ vt

1. [forzar a aceptar]
imponer algo (a alguien) to impose sth (on sb);

a nadie le gusta que le impongan obligaciones no one likes to have responsibilities forced upon them;

desde el principio el campeón impuso un fuerte ritmo de carrera the champion set a healthy pace right from the start of the race;

el profesor impuso silencio en la clase the teacher silenced the class;

una política impuesta por el Banco Mundial a policy imposed by the World Bank

2. [aplicar]
imponer una multa/un castigo a alguien to impose a fine/a punishment on sb;

el juez le impuso una pena de dos años de cárcel the judge sentenced him to two years' imprisonment;

le impusieron la difícil tarea de sanear las finanzas de la empresa he was charged with the difficult task of straightening out the company's finances;

impusieron la obligatoriedad de llevar casco they made it compulsory to wear a helmet

3. [inspirar] [miedo, admiración] to inspire (a in);
imponer respeto (a alguien) to command respect (from sb)

4. [establecer] [moda] to set;
[costumbre] to introduce
5. [asignar] [nombre] to give;
[medalla, condecoración, título] to award;
a la isla se le impuso el nombre de su descubridor the island was named after the person who discovered it;

le fue impuesto el título de doctor honoris causa por la Universidad de México he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Mexico

6. [tributos, cargas fiscales] to impose (a on)

7. [en banca] to deposit

♦ vi

to be imposing;

el edificio impone por sus grandes dimensiones the size of the building makes it very imposing;

imponía con su presencia he had an imposing presence

♦ See also the pronominal verb imponerse

* * *

imponer

<part impuesto>

I v/t

1 impose; impuesto impose, levy

2 miedo, respeto inspire

II v/i be imposing o

impressive

* * *

imponer {60} vt

1) : to impose

2) : to confer

imponer vi

: to be impressive, to command respect

♦ See also the reflexive verb imponerse

* * *

imponer vb to impose

impone sus ideas a los demás he imposes his ideas on others

el juez le impuso la pena máxima the judge gave him the maximum sentence

imponer una multa a alguien to fine somebody

Spanish-English dictionary > imponer
2 pena

f.

1 shame, pity.

da pena no poder hacer nada it's a shame o pity we can't do anything

el pobre me da pena I feel sorry for the poor chap

¡qué pena! what a shame o pity!

2 sadness, sorrow (tristeza).

sentía una gran pena I felt terribly sad

3 problem, trouble (desgracia).

4 struggle.

a duras penas with great difficulty

5 punishment (castigo).

le cayó o le impusieron una pena de treinta años he was sentenced to o given thirty years

so o bajo pena de under penalty of

pena capital o de muerte death penalty

6 embarrassment. (Caribbean Spanish (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela), Central American Spanish, Colombian Spanish, Mexican Spanish)

me da pena I'm embarrassed about it

7 grief, regret, sorrow, heartache.

8 penna, contour feather.

pres.indicat.

3^rd person singular (él/ella/ello) present indicative of spanish verb: penar.

imperat.

2^nd person singular (tú) Imperative of Spanish verb: penar.

* * *

pena

► nombre femenino

1 (castigo) sentence, punishment

■ lo han condenado a una pena de seis meses de cárcel he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment

2 (tristeza) grief, sorrow

■ me da pena verlo tan solo it makes me sad to see him so lonely

3 (lástima) pity

■ ¡qué pena que no podáis venir! it's a shame you can't make it!

4 (dificultad) hardship, trouble

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

a duras penas with great difficulty

de pena familiar awful, terrible, pathetic

hecho,-a una pena familiar in a bad way

merecer la pena / valer la pena to be worth while, be worth it

sin pena ni gloria undistinguished

pena capital capital punishment

pena de muerte death penalty

* * *

noun f.

1) pity

2) sorrow

3) penalty, punishment

4) difficulty, trouble

5) shame

•

- valer la pena

* * *

SF

1) (=tristeza) sorrow

tenía mucha pena después de la muerte de su hijo — she grieved a lot o was extremely upset after her son's death

tengo una pena muy grande porque no está con nosotros — I'm very sad that he is not here with us

• alma en pena — lost soul

• dar pena, da pena verlos sufrir así — it's sad to see them suffer like that

me daba pena dejar España — I was sad o sorry to leave Spain

Pepe me da mucha pena — I feel very sorry for Pepe

• morir de (la) pena — to die of a broken heart

sin pena ni gloria —

ese año pasó sin pena ni gloria — it was an uneventful sort of year

la exposición pasó sin pena ni gloria — the exhibition went almost unnoticed

2) (=lástima) shame, pity

¿no podéis venir? ¡qué pena! — you can't come? what a shame o a pity!

¡es una pena que no tengamos más tiempo! — it's a shame o a pity that we haven't got more time!, it's too bad we haven't got more time! (EEUU)

mi habitación está que da pena verla — my room is in a terrible state *

• de pena, la economía va de pena — the economy is in a terrible state

el vestido le quedaba de pena — the dress looked terrible on her

• estar hecho una pena — to be in a sorry state

3) pl penas (=problemas)

cuéntame tus penas — tell me all your troubles

logramos superarlo con muchas penas — we had to struggle to overcome it

- ahogar las penas

- ¡allá penas!

- a duras penas

a duras penas consiguió alcanzar la orilla — he only managed to reach the shore with great difficulty

a duras penas llegamos a fin de mes — we can barely make ends meet

4) (=esfuerzo)

• ahorrarse la pena — to save o.s. the trouble, save o.s. the bother *

• merecer o valer la pena — to be worth

no merece la pena — it's not worth it

una película que vale la pena ver — a film that's worth seeing

¿merece la pena visitar la catedral? — is the cathedral worth a visit?

no vale la pena que perdamos el tiempo discutiendo eso — it's not worth wasting time arguing about it

5) (Jur) sentence

el juez le impuso una pena de tres años de prisión — the judge sentenced him to three years in prison

• bajo o so pena de — [+ castigo, multa, prisión] on o under penalty of

bajo pena de muerte — on pain of death, on o under penalty of death

tiene prohibido hacerlo, so pena de ser expulsado — he is forbidden to do it, on o under penalty of expulsion

pena capital — capital punishment

pena de muerte — death penalty

pena máxima — maximum sentence; (Ftbl) penalty

pena pecuniaria — fine

pena privativa de libertad — custodial sentence

6) Méx, And (=vergüenza) embarrassment

me da mucha pena — I'm very embarrassed

¡qué pena! — how embarrassing!

sentir o tener pena — to be o feel embarrassed, be o feel ill at ease

7) And (=fantasma) ghost

* * *

femenino

1)

a) ( tristeza)

tenía/sentía mucha pena — he was o felt very sad

me da pena verlo — it upsets me o it makes me sad to see it

a mí la que me da pena es su mujer — it's his wife I feel sorry for

está que da pena — she's in a terrible state

me da pena tener que decírselo — it hurts me to have to tell him

lloraba con tanta pena — he was crying so bitterly

b) ( lástima) pity, shame

qué pena! — what a pity o shame!

es una pena que... — it's a pity (that)...

de pena — (Esp) terrible

estar hecho una pena — to be in a sorry o terrible state

sin pena ni gloria — almost unnoticed

vale or merece la pena — it's worth it

vale la pena leerlo/visitarlo — it's worth reading/a visit

no vale la pena intentar convencerlo — there's no point o it's not worth trying to persuade him

2) penas femenino plural

a) ( problemas) sorrows (pl)

ahogar las penas — to drown one's sorrows

me contó sus penas — he told me his troubles o (liter or hum) woes

a duras penas — ( apenas) hardly; ( con dificultad) with difficulty

b) ( penalidades) hardship

pasamos muchas penas — we suffered great hardship

3) (Der) sentence

la pena máxima — the maximum sentence

bajo or so pena de — (frml) on pain of (frml)

so pena de repetirme — at the risk of repeating myself

- pena capital or de muerte

4) (AmL exc CS) ( vergüenza) embarrassment

qué pena! — how embarrasing!

me da mucha pena pedírselo — I'm too embarrassed to ask him

quitado de la pena — (Méx) blithely, gaily

5) (Per) ( fantasma) ghost

* * *

= woe, distress, grief, regret, criminalisation [criminalization, -USA], grieving, woefulness, heartache, misery.

Ex. 'The word's out: all departments have to cut their staffs by 10%' -- Her voice was weak and laden with woe.

Ex. The reason for his distress seemed to have been twofold: he derived comfort from reading the roll and he would have found it very embarassing to admit at the end of his journey that he had lost it.

Ex. This paper discusses the ways in which books may be used to help bereaved children to understand death and other aspects of grief.

Ex. Spalding's regret is quite understandable, for few of those seeking to identify particular editions in the catalog will fail to be confused by the results of this decision.

Ex. In our opinion, it is more relevant to focus on the Cuban government's criminalization of the unauthorized ownership of computers and its effective banning of the World Wide Web.

Ex. The article 'Words of comfort: resources for the living and dying' reviews books on death and grieving for purposes of collection development in the area.

Ex. In presenting this story, Amenabar has managed to avoid both saccharine sentimentality and easy woefulness.

Ex. Lovelorn staff at a Japanese company can take paid time off after an upsetting break-up with a partner, with more ' heartache leave' offered as they get older.

Ex. Perhaps Jane Austen was aware of this, for having stated the fact of the elopement briefly, she says airily: 'Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery, I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can'.

----

* a duras pena = with great difficulty.

* alegrías y penas = pleasures and pains.

* alma en pena = banshee.

* arreglárselas a duras penas = muddle through.

* avanzar a duras penas = flounder, grind on.

* causar pena = cause + hurt.

* chillar como alma en pena = scream like + a banshee, wail like + a banshee.

* condenar a la pena de muerte = sentence + Nombre + to death, condemn + Nombre + to death.

* contarle las penas a Alguien = sob + Posesivo + heart out to.

* de puta pena = appalling, deplorable.

* en pena = in grief.

* ganarse la vida a duras penas = eke out + a living, scratch (out) + a living, scrape + a living, eke out + an existence.

* gemir como alma en pena = wail like + a banshee.

* gritar como alma en pena = scream like + a banshee, wail like + a banshee.

* merecer la pena = be worth + the effort, be worthwhile, be worth + Posesivo + time, be worth it.

* merecer la pena considerar más detalladamente = repay + full consideration.

* merecer la pena el esfuerzo = repay + effort.

* merecer la pena estudiar Algo = repay + study.

* merecer la pena + Infinitivo = be worth + Gerundio, be worthy of + Gerundio, it + be + worth + Gerundio.

* merecer la pena intentarlo = be worth a try.

* merecerle la pena a Uno = be worth + Posesivo + while.

* no merecer la pena = be no good.

* no valer la pena = be no good.

* parecer + merecer la pena + Infinitivo = seem + worth + Gerundio.

* pena capital = capital punishment.

* pena de muerte = death penalty, death row.

* pena de prisión = custodial sentence, jail sentence.

* que merece la pena = worthwhile.

* que vale la pena = worthwhile.

* salir adelante a duras penas = eke out + a living, scratch (out) + a living, scrape + a living, eke out + an existence.

* sentenciar a la pena de muerte = sentence + Nombre + to death, condemn + Nombre + to death.

* sentir pena por = feel + sorry for.

* valer la pena = be not for nothing, be worth it, be worthwhile, be worth + the effort, be worth + Posesivo + time.

* valer la pena leer Algo = repay + reading.

* valerle la pena a Uno = be worth + Posesivo + while.

* * *

femenino

1)

a) ( tristeza)

tenía/sentía mucha pena — he was o felt very sad

me da pena verlo — it upsets me o it makes me sad to see it

a mí la que me da pena es su mujer — it's his wife I feel sorry for

está que da pena — she's in a terrible state

me da pena tener que decírselo — it hurts me to have to tell him

lloraba con tanta pena — he was crying so bitterly

b) ( lástima) pity, shame

qué pena! — what a pity o shame!

es una pena que... — it's a pity (that)...

de pena — (Esp) terrible

estar hecho una pena — to be in a sorry o terrible state

sin pena ni gloria — almost unnoticed

vale or merece la pena — it's worth it

vale la pena leerlo/visitarlo — it's worth reading/a visit

no vale la pena intentar convencerlo — there's no point o it's not worth trying to persuade him

2) penas femenino plural

a) ( problemas) sorrows (pl)

ahogar las penas — to drown one's sorrows

me contó sus penas — he told me his troubles o (liter or hum) woes

a duras penas — ( apenas) hardly; ( con dificultad) with difficulty

b) ( penalidades) hardship

pasamos muchas penas — we suffered great hardship

3) (Der) sentence

la pena máxima — the maximum sentence

bajo or so pena de — (frml) on pain of (frml)

so pena de repetirme — at the risk of repeating myself

- pena capital or de muerte

4) (AmL exc CS) ( vergüenza) embarrassment

qué pena! — how embarrasing!

me da mucha pena pedírselo — I'm too embarrassed to ask him

quitado de la pena — (Méx) blithely, gaily

5) (Per) ( fantasma) ghost

* * *

= woe, distress, grief, regret, criminalisation [criminalization, -USA], grieving, woefulness, heartache, misery.

Ex: 'The word's out: all departments have to cut their staffs by 10%' -- Her voice was weak and laden with woe.

Ex: The reason for his distress seemed to have been twofold: he derived comfort from reading the roll and he would have found it very embarassing to admit at the end of his journey that he had lost it.

Ex: This paper discusses the ways in which books may be used to help bereaved children to understand death and other aspects of grief.

Ex: Spalding's regret is quite understandable, for few of those seeking to identify particular editions in the catalog will fail to be confused by the results of this decision.

Ex: In our opinion, it is more relevant to focus on the Cuban government's criminalization of the unauthorized ownership of computers and its effective banning of the World Wide Web.

Ex: The article 'Words of comfort: resources for the living and dying' reviews books on death and grieving for purposes of collection development in the area.

Ex: In presenting this story, Amenabar has managed to avoid both saccharine sentimentality and easy woefulness.

Ex: Lovelorn staff at a Japanese company can take paid time off after an upsetting break-up with a partner, with more ' heartache leave' offered as they get older.

Ex: Perhaps Jane Austen was aware of this, for having stated the fact of the elopement briefly, she says airily: 'Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery, I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can'.

* a duras pena = with great difficulty.

* alegrías y penas = pleasures and pains.

* alma en pena = banshee.

* arreglárselas a duras penas = muddle through.

* avanzar a duras penas = flounder, grind on.

* causar pena = cause + hurt.

* chillar como alma en pena = scream like + a banshee, wail like + a banshee.

* condenar a la pena de muerte = sentence + Nombre + to death, condemn + Nombre + to death.

* contarle las penas a Alguien = sob + Posesivo + heart out to.

* de puta pena = appalling, deplorable.

* en pena = in grief.

* ganarse la vida a duras penas = eke out + a living, scratch (out) + a living, scrape + a living, eke out + an existence.

* gemir como alma en pena = wail like + a banshee.

* gritar como alma en pena = scream like + a banshee, wail like + a banshee.

* merecer la pena = be worth + the effort, be worthwhile, be worth + Posesivo + time, be worth it.

* merecer la pena considerar más detalladamente = repay + full consideration.

* merecer la pena el esfuerzo = repay + effort.

* merecer la pena estudiar Algo = repay + study.

* merecer la pena + Infinitivo = be worth + Gerundio, be worthy of + Gerundio, it + be + worth + Gerundio.

* merecer la pena intentarlo = be worth a try.

* merecerle la pena a Uno = be worth + Posesivo + while.

* no merecer la pena = be no good.

* no valer la pena = be no good.

* parecer + merecer la pena + Infinitivo = seem + worth + Gerundio.

* pena capital = capital punishment.

* pena de muerte = death penalty, death row.

* pena de prisión = custodial sentence, jail sentence.

* que merece la pena = worthwhile.

* que vale la pena = worthwhile.

* salir adelante a duras penas = eke out + a living, scratch (out) + a living, scrape + a living, eke out + an existence.

* sentenciar a la pena de muerte = sentence + Nombre + to death, condemn + Nombre + to death.

* sentir pena por = feel + sorry for.

* valer la pena = be not for nothing, be worth it, be worthwhile, be worth + the effort, be worth + Posesivo + time.

* valer la pena leer Algo = repay + reading.

* valerle la pena a Uno = be worth + Posesivo + while.

* * *

pena

feminine

A

1

(tristeza): tenía mucha pena he was o felt very sad

me da pena ver a esos niños pidiendo limosna it upsets me o it makes me sad to see those children begging

a mí la que me da pena es su pobre mujer it's his poor wife I feel sorry for

está que da pena she's in a terrible state

no te imaginas la pena que me da tener que decírtelo you can't imagine how much it hurts me to have to tell you

lloraba con tanta pena he was crying so bitterly

sentí mucha pena cuando me enteré de su muerte I was very sad to hear of his death

2 (lástima) pity, shame

¡qué pena que no te puedas quedar! what a pity o a shame you can't stay!

es una pena que no hayas seguido sus consejos it's a pity you didn't take her advice

de pena ( Esp); terrible

ese vestido le queda de pena that dress looks terrible o awful o dreadful on her

en las fotos siempre salgo de pena I always look awful o terrible in photographs

¿cómo te fue en el examen? — de pena how was your exam? — awful o terrible, how did you get on in your exam? — really badly

estar hecho una pena to be in a sorry o terrible state, be in a bad way

sin pena ni gloria almost unnoticed

una película que pasó por las carteleras sin pena ni gloria a movie which came and went almost unnoticed

pasó por la universidad sin pena ni gloria he had an undistinguished university career

vale or merece la pena it's worth it

merece la pena leerlo it's worth reading

no vale la pena intentar convencerlo there's no point o it's not worth trying to persuade him

un museo que bien vale la pena visitar a museum which is well worth a visit o ( frml) which is worthy of a visit

bien merece la pena correr el riesgo it's well worth the risk

B penas fpl

1

(dolores, problemas): bebe para ahogar las penas she drinks to drown her sorrows

vino a contarme sus penas he came to tell me his problems o troubles o ( literor hum) woes

sus hijos no le han dado más que penas her children have caused her nothing but sorrow o heartache

a duras penas (apenas) hardly; (con dificultad) with difficulty

te oigo a duras penas I can scarcely o hardly o barely hear you

subió a duras penas las escaleras she had great difficulty climbing the stairs

llegaron a la meta, pero a duras penas they reached the finishing line, but only just o only with difficulty

2 (penurias, dificultades) hardship

pasamos muchas penas para pagarlo we suffered great hardship to pay for it

pasaron grandes penas durante la expedición they underwent great difficulties o hardship during the expedition

C ( Der) sentence

el juez le impuso la pena máxima the judge gave him the maximum sentence

bajo or so pena de ( frml); on pain of ( frml), under penalty of ( frml)

so pena de caer en repeticiones at the risk of repeating myself

Compuestos:

● pena aflictiva

afflictive punishment

● pena capital

death penalty

los que se oponen a la pena capital those opposed to the death penalty o to capital punishment

● pena corporal

corporal punishment

● pena de muerte

death penalty

● pena pecuniaria

fine

● pena privativa de libertad

custodial sentence

D ( AmL exc CS) (vergüenza) embarrassment

le da una pena horrible hablar en público she's terribly shy o embarrassed about speaking in public

me da pena molestarlos a esta hora de la noche I feel awful o terrible o embarrassed disturbing you at this time of night

me puse roja de la pena I went red with embarrassment

quitado de la pena ( Méx); blithely, gaily

E ( Per) (fantasma) ghost

* * *

Del verbo penar: ( conjugate penar)

pena es:

3ª persona singular (él/ella/usted) presente indicativo

2ª persona singular (tú) imperativo

Multiple Entries:
pena
penar
peña
pena sustantivo femenino
1
a) ( tristeza):

◊ tenía/sentía mucha peña he was o felt very sad;

me da peña verlo it upsets me o it makes me sad to see it;
a mí la que me da peña es su mujer it's his wife I feel sorry for;
está que da peña she's in a terrible state
b) ( lástima) pity, shame;

◊ ¡qué peña! what a pity o shame!;

es una peña que … it's a pity (that) …;
vale or merece la peña it's worth it;
vale la peña leerlo/visitarlo it's worth reading/a visit
2
◊ penas sustantivo femenino plural

a) ( problemas) sorrows (pl);

◊ ahogar las peñas to drown one's sorrows;

me contó sus peñas he told me his troubles;
a duras peñas ( apenas) hardly;

( con dificultad) with difficulty
b) ( penalidades) hardship

3 (Der) sentence;
◊ la peña máxima the maximum sentence;

peña capital or de muerte death penalty
4 (AmL exc CS) ( vergüenza) embarrassment;
◊ ¡qué peña! how embarrasing!;

me da mucha peña pedírselo I'm too embarrassed to ask him
peña sustantivo femenino
1 ( roca) crag, rock
2
a) ( grupo) circle, group;

◊ peña taurina bullfighting club

b) (AmL) tb

◊ peña folklórica folk club

pena sustantivo femenino
1 (castigo) punishment, penalty: fue condenado a pena de muerte, he was sentenced to death
2 (tristeza) grief, sorrow, sadness: es una pena que no vengas, it's a pity you're not coming
3 (dificultad) hardships pl, trouble
♦ Locuciones: estar hecho una pena, to be in a terrible state
merecer o valer la pena, to be worth: no merece la pena que lo hagas, it's not worth doing it
a duras penas, hardly
sin pena ni gloria, almost unnoticed
peña sustantivo femenino
1 rock, crag
2 (de socios, de amigos) club
3 fam (gente) people
(pandilla) gang
' peña' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
ay
- cáliz
- capital
- cicatrizar
- compensar
- condonar
- conmutar
- dar
- desgarrador
- desgarradora
- garrote
- horda
- lamentable
- lastimosa
- lastimoso
- merecer
- mortificar
- mortificarse
- pena
- pesar
- rebajar
- sentimiento
- so
- valer
- aliviar
- castigar
- causar
- consumir
- dolor
- enorme
- gemido
- grande
- herida
- hondo
- imponer
- indultar
- indulto
- inmenso
- lástima
- mal
- mitigar
- presidio
- prisión
- severidad
- suspirar
English:
bother
- capital punishment
- carry
- dear
- death penalty
- grief
- grieve
- hassle
- heart
- jail
- mope about
- mope around
- numb
- opposed
- pay
- pay off
- penalty
- prostrate
- remission
- retribution
- sentence
- shame
- sorrow
- term
- trouble
- try
- wail
- worth
- worthwhile
- against
- ashamed
- broken
- capital
- community
- death
- effort
- embarrassed
- embarrassing
- embarrassment
- hurt
- mortified
- painfully
- pity
- sort
- suspended
- well

* * *

pena nf

1. [lástima] shame, pity;

es una pena (que no puedas venir) it's a shame o pity (you can't come);

da pena no poder hacer nada it's a shame o pity we can't do anything;

el pobre me da pena I feel sorry for the poor guy;

me da pena ver lo pobres que son it's awful to see how poor they are;

me da pena tener que irme ya I hate to have to leave already;

¡qué pena! what a shame o pity!;

¡qué pena de hijo tengo! what a useless son I've got!

2. [tristeza] sadness, sorrow;

sentía una gran pena I felt terribly sad

3. [desgracia] problem, trouble;

bebe para olvidar o [m5] ahogar las penas he drinks to drown his sorrows;

me contó sus penas she told me her troubles o about her problems

4. [dificultad] struggle;

pasaron grandes penas durante la guerra they suffered great hardship during the war;

subimos el piano a duras penas we got the piano up the stairs with great difficulty;

con mi sueldo mantengo a duras penas a mi familia my salary is barely enough for me to support my family;

consiguieron llegar a duras penas they only just managed to get there

5. [castigo] punishment;

le cayó o [m5] le impusieron una pena de treinta años he was sentenced to o given thirty years;

cumplió pena en la prisión de Alcatraz he served his sentence in Alcatraz;
Formal
so o [m5] bajo pena de [bajo castigo de] under penalty of;
[a menos que] unless
Comp
pena capital death penalty;
pena de cárcel prison sentence;

pena máxima [jurídica] maximum sentence;
[en fútbol] penalty;
pena de muerte death penalty;

pena de reclusión prison sentence

6. CAm, Carib, Col, Méx [vergüenza] embarrassment;

me da pena I'm embarrassed about it;

me da pena molestar I'm terribly sorry to bother you;

tengo pena de hablar con ella I'm too embarrassed to talk to her

7. Comp
Esp Fam
de pena [muy mal] [m5] lo pasamos de pena we had an awful time;

dibuja/cocina de pena he can't draw/cook to save his life, he's useless at drawing/cooking;

ese peinado le queda de pena that haircut looks terrible on her;
Fam
hecho una pena in a real state;

(no) valer o [m5] merecer la pena (not) to be worthwhile o worth it;

una película que merece la pena a movie that's worth seeing;

vale la pena intentarlo it's worth a try;

no merece la pena que te preocupes tanto there's no point you getting so worried;

sin pena ni gloria without distinction;

un jugador que pasó por el equipo sin pena ni gloria a player who had an undistinguished career in the team;

el año acabó sin pena ni gloria it was a wholly unremarkable year

* * *

pena

f

1 ( tristeza) sadness, sorrow;

da pena it’s sad

2 ( congoja) grief, distress

3 ( lástima) pity;

es una pena it’s a shame o pity;

¡qué pena! what a shame o pity!

4 L.Am. ( vergüenza) embarrassment;

me da pena I’m embarrassed

5 JUR sentence

6

:

no vale o

no merece la pena it’s not worth it;

a duras penas with great difficulty;

so pena de on pain of;

con más pena que gloria ingloriously;

sin pena ni gloria almost unnoticed

* * *

pena nf

1) castigo: punishment, penalty

pena de muerte: death penalty

2) aflicción: sorrow, grief

morir de pena: to die of a broken heart

¡que pena!: what a shame!, how sad!

3) dolor: pain, suffering

4) dificultad: difficulty, trouble

a duras penas: with great difficulty

5) vergüenza: shame, embarrassment

6)

valer la pena : to be worthwhile

* * *

pena n

1. (tristeza) grief / sorrow / sadness

sintió pena por los niños pobres she felt sorry for those poor children

me da mucha pena marcharme I'm very sad to leave

2. (lástima) shame / pity

es una pena que te tengas que ir ya it's a shame you've got to leave now

¡qué pena! what a pity!

3. (condena) sentence

lo han condenado a una pena de seis meses de cárcel he's been given a six months' prison sentence

4. (problema) trouble / problem

cada cual tiene sus penas everybody's got their problems

a duras penas with great difficulty

de pena terrible

merecer la pena / valer la pena to be worth it

no vale la pena it's not worth it

pena de muerte death penalty

Spanish-English dictionary > pena
3 ser

m.

1 being (ente).

ser humano human being

los seres vivos living things

2 ens.

v.

1 to be (to be in some place or situation, to originate in, to belong to, to pertain, to exist really).

fue aquí it was here

lo importante es decidirse the important thing is to reach a decision

ser de to be made of; (estar hecho de) to be from; (provenir de) to belong to; (ser propiedad de) to be a member of (formar parte de)

¿de dónde eres? where are you from?

los juguetes son de mi hijo the toys are my son's

es alto/gracioso he is tall/funny

es azul/difícil it's blue/difficult

es un amigo/el dueño he is a friend/the owner

Yo soy buena I am good.

2 to be (to be worth, quantity).

¿cuánto es? how much is it?

son 300 pesos that'll be 300 pesos

¿qué (día) es hoy? what day is it today?, what's today?

mañana será 15 de julio tomorrow (it) will be 15 July

¿qué hora es? what time is it?, what's the time?

son las tres (de la tarde) it's three o'clock (in the afternoon), it's three (pm)

3 to be (joined to nouns which signify employment or occupation).

soy abogado/actriz I'm a lawyer/an actress

son estudiantes they're students

4 to be (to happen, to occur, to fall out).

es muy tarde it's rather late

era de noche/de día it was night/day

5 to be (auxiliary verb, by which the passive is formed).

fue visto por un testigo he was seen by a witness

6 to exist, to live.

7 to be for.

Me es muy fácil aprender español It is very easy for me to learn Spanish.

* * *

SER

CONJUGACIÓN

Present Indicative

soy, eres, es, somos, sois, son.

Imperfect Subjunctive

era, eras, era, éramos, erais, eran.

Past Indicative

fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron.

Future Indicative

seré, serás, será, seremos, seréis, serán.

Conditional

sería, serías, sería, seríamos, seríais, serían.

Present Subjunctive

sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean.

Imperfect Subjunctive

fuera, fueras, fuera, fuéramos, fuerais, fueran;

fuese, fueses, fuese, fuésemos, fueseis, fuesen.

Future Subjunctive

fuere, fueres, fuere, fuéremos, fuereis, fueren.

Imperative

sé (tú), sea (él/Vd.), seamos (nos.), sed (vos.), sean (ellos/Vds.).

Past Participle

sido.

\

\

————————

SER

► abreviatura

1 RADIO ( Sociedad Española de Radiodifusión) Spanish private broadcasting company

* * *
1. verb
to be

- ser de
2. noun m.
being

* * *

SF ABR Esp
= Sociedad Española de Radiodifusión radio network
* * *
I 1.
cópula

1) ( seguido de adjetivos) to be

[ ser expresses identity or nature as opposed to condition or state, which is normally conveyed by estar. The examples given below should be contrasted with those to be found in estar 1 cópula 1]

es bajo — he's short

es muy callada — she's very quiet

mi padre es calvo — my father's bald

es sorda de nacimiento — she was born deaf

es inglés/rubio/católico — he's English/fair/(a) Catholic

era cierto/posible — it was true/possible

sé bueno, estáte quieto — be a good boy and keep still

que seas muy feliz — I hope you'll be very happy; (+ me/te/le etc)

para serte sincero — to be honest with you, to tell you the truth

siempre le he sido fiel — I've always been faithful to her; ver tb verbo intransitivo I 5

¿éste es o se hace?/¿tú eres o te haces? — (AmL fam) is he/are you stupid or something? (colloq)

2) ( hablando de estado civil) to be

el mayor es casado/divorciado — the oldest is married/divorced

es viuda — she's a widow; ver tb estar I 3)

3) (seguido de nombre, pronombre, sintagma nominal) to be

soy peluquera/abogada — I'm a hairdresser/a lawyer

es madre de dos niños — she's a mother of two

ábreme, soy Mariano/yo — open the door, it's Mariano/it's me

el que fuera presidente — the former president

años más tarde sería mi asistente — years later she would become my assistant

por ser usted, haremos una excepción — for you o since it's you, we'll make an exception

dame cualquiera que no sea ése — give me any one except o but that one

ya no soy lo que era — I'm not what I used to be

4) (con predicado introducido por `de')

esos zapatos son de plástico — those shoes are (made of) plastic

soy de Córdoba — I'm from Cordoba

es de los vecinos — it belongs to the neighbors, it's the neighbors'

este libro no es de aquí — this book doesn't go o belong here

ésa es de las que... — she's one of those people who..., she's the sort of person who...

ser de lo que no hay — (fam) to be incredible (colloq)

5) (hipótesis, futuro)

será un error — it must be a mistake

¿será cierto? — can it be true?

pero será animal! — he must be a complete idiot
2.
ser vi

Sentido I

1)

a) ( existir) to be

b) (liter) ( en cuentos)

érase una vez... — once upon a time there was...

2)

a) (tener lugar, ocurrir)

la fiesta va a ser en su casa — the party is going to be (held) at her house

¿dónde fue el accidente? — where did the accident happen?

el asunto fue así... — it happened like this...

b) ( en preguntas)

ser de algo/alguien: ¿qué habrá sido de él? I wonder what happened to o what became of him; ¿qué es de Marisa? (fam) what's Marisa up to (these days)? (colloq); ¿qué va a ser de nosotros? — what will become of us?

3) ( sumar)

¿cuánto es (todo)? — how much is that (altogether)?

son 3.000 pesos — that'll be o that's 3,000 pesos

cuatro y cuatro son ocho — four and four are o make eight

somos diez en total — there are ten of us altogether

4) (causar, significar) to be

aquello fue su ruina — that was his downfall

5) ( resultar)

me va a ser imposible venir — I'm not going to be able to come

me fue muy difícil entenderlo — I found it very difficult to understand

6) ( consistir en) to be

lo importante es participar — the important o main thing is to take part

7) (indicando finalidad, adecuación)

ser para algo — to be for something

este agua es para beber — this water is for drinking

este traje no es para usarlo mucho — this suit is not for frequent wear

Sentido II

8) ( usado para enfatizar)

así es como queda mejor — like that it looks best

fue aquí donde lo vi — this is where I saw him, it was here that I saw him

era él el que quería — he was the one who wanted to

fueron los bancos los que se beneficiaron — it was the banks that benefited

fui yo quien or la que lo dije fui yo quien or la que lo dijo — I was the one who said it, it was me that said it

9)

es que...: ¿es que no lo saben? do you mean to say they don't know?; es que no sé nadar the thing is I can't swim; díselo, si es que te atreves — tell him, if you dare

10)

lo que es... — (fam)

lo que es yo, no pienso hablarle más — I certainly have no intention of speaking to him again

lo que es saber idiomas! — it sure is something to be able to speak languages! (AmE), what it is to be able to speak languages! (BrE)

11) (en locs)

a no ser que — (+ subj) unless

como debe ser: ¿ves como me acordé? - como debe ser! see, I did remember- I should think so too!; los presentó uno por uno, como debe ser she introduced them one by one, as you should; ¿cómo es eso? why is that?, how come? (colloq); como/cuando/donde sea: tengo que conseguir ese trabajo como sea I have to get that job no matter what; hazlo como sea, pero hazlo do it any way o however you want but get it done; puedo dormir en el sillón o donde sea I can sleep in the armchair or wherever you like o anywhere you like; como ser (CS) such as; de no ser así (frml) should this not be the case (frml); de ser así (frml) should this be so o the case (frml); de no ser por...: de no ser por él,... if it hadn't been o if it weren't for him,...; eso es! that's it!, that's right!; lo que sea: cómete una manzana, o lo que sea have an apple or something; tú pagas tus mil pesos o lo que sea... you pay your thousand pesos or whatever...; estoy dispuesta a hacer lo que sea I'm prepared to do whatever it takes o anything; no sea que or no vaya a ser que (+ subj) in case; cierra la ventana, no sea or no vaya a ser que llueva close the window in case it rains; ten cuidado, no sea or no vaya a ser que lo eches todo a perder be careful or you'll ruin everything; o sea: los empleados de más antigüedad, o sea los que llevan aquí más de... longer serving employees, that is to say those who have been here more than...; o sea que no te interesa in other words, you're not interested; o sea que nunca lo descubriste so you never found out; (ya) sea..., (ya) sea... either..., or...; (ya) sea por caridad, (ya) sea por otra razón,... whether he did it out of charity or for some other reason,...; sea como sea: hay que impedirlo, sea como sea it must be prevented now matter how o at all costs; sea cuando sea whenever it is; sea quien sea le dices que no estoy whoever it is, tell them I'm not in; si no fuera/hubiera sido por... — if it wasn't o weren't/hadn't been for...

Sentido III

12) ( en el tiempo) to be

¿qué fecha es hoy? — what's the date today?, what's today's date

¿qué día es hoy? — what day is it today?

es miércoles — it's Wednesday

serían las cuatro cuando llegó — it must have been (about) four (o'clock) when she arrived; ver tb verbo impersonal
3.
ser v impers to be

era primavera — it was spring(time)

es demasiado tarde para llamar — it's too late to phone
4.
ser v aux ( en la voz pasiva)

ser + pp — to be + pp

fue construido en 1900 — it was built in 1900
II
masculino

1)

a) ( ente) being

seres sobrenaturales — supernatural beings

b) (individuo, persona)

un ser querido — a loved one

un ser muy especial — a very special person

- ser humano/vivo

2)

a) ( naturaleza)

desde lo más profundo de mi ser — from the bottom of my heart

b) ( carácter esencial) essence

3) (Fil) being

la mujer que te dio el ser — the woman who brought you into this world

* * *
I 1.
cópula

1) ( seguido de adjetivos) to be

[ ser expresses identity or nature as opposed to condition or state, which is normally conveyed by estar. The examples given below should be contrasted with those to be found in estar 1 cópula 1]

es bajo — he's short

es muy callada — she's very quiet

mi padre es calvo — my father's bald

es sorda de nacimiento — she was born deaf

es inglés/rubio/católico — he's English/fair/(a) Catholic

era cierto/posible — it was true/possible

sé bueno, estáte quieto — be a good boy and keep still

que seas muy feliz — I hope you'll be very happy; (+ me/te/le etc)

para serte sincero — to be honest with you, to tell you the truth

siempre le he sido fiel — I've always been faithful to her; ver tb verbo intransitivo I 5

¿éste es o se hace?/¿tú eres o te haces? — (AmL fam) is he/are you stupid or something? (colloq)

2) ( hablando de estado civil) to be

el mayor es casado/divorciado — the oldest is married/divorced

es viuda — she's a widow; ver tb estar I 3)

3) (seguido de nombre, pronombre, sintagma nominal) to be

soy peluquera/abogada — I'm a hairdresser/a lawyer

es madre de dos niños — she's a mother of two

ábreme, soy Mariano/yo — open the door, it's Mariano/it's me

el que fuera presidente — the former president

años más tarde sería mi asistente — years later she would become my assistant

por ser usted, haremos una excepción — for you o since it's you, we'll make an exception

dame cualquiera que no sea ése — give me any one except o but that one

ya no soy lo que era — I'm not what I used to be

4) (con predicado introducido por `de')

esos zapatos son de plástico — those shoes are (made of) plastic

soy de Córdoba — I'm from Cordoba

es de los vecinos — it belongs to the neighbors, it's the neighbors'

este libro no es de aquí — this book doesn't go o belong here

ésa es de las que... — she's one of those people who..., she's the sort of person who...

ser de lo que no hay — (fam) to be incredible (colloq)

5) (hipótesis, futuro)

será un error — it must be a mistake

¿será cierto? — can it be true?

pero será animal! — he must be a complete idiot
2.
ser vi

Sentido I

1)

a) ( existir) to be

b) (liter) ( en cuentos)

érase una vez... — once upon a time there was...

2)

a) (tener lugar, ocurrir)

la fiesta va a ser en su casa — the party is going to be (held) at her house

¿dónde fue el accidente? — where did the accident happen?

el asunto fue así... — it happened like this...

b) ( en preguntas)

ser de algo/alguien: ¿qué habrá sido de él? I wonder what happened to o what became of him; ¿qué es de Marisa? (fam) what's Marisa up to (these days)? (colloq); ¿qué va a ser de nosotros? — what will become of us?

3) ( sumar)

¿cuánto es (todo)? — how much is that (altogether)?

son 3.000 pesos — that'll be o that's 3,000 pesos

cuatro y cuatro son ocho — four and four are o make eight

somos diez en total — there are ten of us altogether

4) (causar, significar) to be

aquello fue su ruina — that was his downfall

5) ( resultar)

me va a ser imposible venir — I'm not going to be able to come

me fue muy difícil entenderlo — I found it very difficult to understand

6) ( consistir en) to be

lo importante es participar — the important o main thing is to take part

7) (indicando finalidad, adecuación)

ser para algo — to be for something

este agua es para beber — this water is for drinking

este traje no es para usarlo mucho — this suit is not for frequent wear

Sentido II

8) ( usado para enfatizar)

así es como queda mejor — like that it looks best

fue aquí donde lo vi — this is where I saw him, it was here that I saw him

era él el que quería — he was the one who wanted to

fueron los bancos los que se beneficiaron — it was the banks that benefited

fui yo quien or la que lo dije fui yo quien or la que lo dijo — I was the one who said it, it was me that said it

9)

es que...: ¿es que no lo saben? do you mean to say they don't know?; es que no sé nadar the thing is I can't swim; díselo, si es que te atreves — tell him, if you dare

10)

lo que es... — (fam)

lo que es yo, no pienso hablarle más — I certainly have no intention of speaking to him again

lo que es saber idiomas! — it sure is something to be able to speak languages! (AmE), what it is to be able to speak languages! (BrE)

11) (en locs)

a no ser que — (+ subj) unless

como debe ser: ¿ves como me acordé? - como debe ser! see, I did remember- I should think so too!; los presentó uno por uno, como debe ser she introduced them one by one, as you should; ¿cómo es eso? why is that?, how come? (colloq); como/cuando/donde sea: tengo que conseguir ese trabajo como sea I have to get that job no matter what; hazlo como sea, pero hazlo do it any way o however you want but get it done; puedo dormir en el sillón o donde sea I can sleep in the armchair or wherever you like o anywhere you like; como ser (CS) such as; de no ser así (frml) should this not be the case (frml); de ser así (frml) should this be so o the case (frml); de no ser por...: de no ser por él,... if it hadn't been o if it weren't for him,...; eso es! that's it!, that's right!; lo que sea: cómete una manzana, o lo que sea have an apple or something; tú pagas tus mil pesos o lo que sea... you pay your thousand pesos or whatever...; estoy dispuesta a hacer lo que sea I'm prepared to do whatever it takes o anything; no sea que or no vaya a ser que (+ subj) in case; cierra la ventana, no sea or no vaya a ser que llueva close the window in case it rains; ten cuidado, no sea or no vaya a ser que lo eches todo a perder be careful or you'll ruin everything; o sea: los empleados de más antigüedad, o sea los que llevan aquí más de... longer serving employees, that is to say those who have been here more than...; o sea que no te interesa in other words, you're not interested; o sea que nunca lo descubriste so you never found out; (ya) sea..., (ya) sea... either..., or...; (ya) sea por caridad, (ya) sea por otra razón,... whether he did it out of charity or for some other reason,...; sea como sea: hay que impedirlo, sea como sea it must be prevented now matter how o at all costs; sea cuando sea whenever it is; sea quien sea le dices que no estoy whoever it is, tell them I'm not in; si no fuera/hubiera sido por... — if it wasn't o weren't/hadn't been for...

Sentido III

12) ( en el tiempo) to be

¿qué fecha es hoy? — what's the date today?, what's today's date

¿qué día es hoy? — what day is it today?

es miércoles — it's Wednesday

serían las cuatro cuando llegó — it must have been (about) four (o'clock) when she arrived; ver tb verbo impersonal
3.
ser v impers to be

era primavera — it was spring(time)

es demasiado tarde para llamar — it's too late to phone
4.
ser v aux ( en la voz pasiva)

ser + pp — to be + pp

fue construido en 1900 — it was built in 1900
II
masculino

1)

a) ( ente) being

seres sobrenaturales — supernatural beings

b) (individuo, persona)

un ser querido — a loved one

un ser muy especial — a very special person

- ser humano/vivo

2)

a) ( naturaleza)

desde lo más profundo de mi ser — from the bottom of my heart

b) ( carácter esencial) essence

3) (Fil) being

la mujer que te dio el ser — the woman who brought you into this world

* * *

ser¹

¹ = being, creature.

Ex: A feeling of unshielded relief filled Pope's whole being.

Ex: Stories that lead to doing things are all the more attractive to children, who are active rather than passive creatures.

* abducción por seres extraterrestres = alien abduction.

* alimentación del ser humano = human nutrition.

* llegada de seres extraterrestres = alien visitation.

* nutrición del ser humano = human nutrition.

* ser consecuente con Uno mismo = be true to + Reflexivo.

* ser extraterrestre = alien creature.

* ser fiel con Uno mismo = be true to + Reflexivo.

* ser humano = human being, human, human person.

* ser inteligente = intelligent being.

* ser pensante = sentient being.

* ser superior = supreme being, higher being, superior being.

* ser supremo = supreme being.

* ser todo un éxito = hit + a home run, knock it out of + the park.

* ser vivo = living being, sentient being.

* todo ser humano = every living soul.

* tráfico de seres humanos = trafficking in human beings.

* trata de seres humanos = trafficking in human beings.

ser²

² = be, take + the form of, stand as.

Ex: Systems such as Dialog, IRS, ORBIT and BLAISE may be accessed by libraries and information units.

Ex: Hierarchical relationships may also take the form of co-ordinate relationships, in which case they may be represented by 'RT' or related term, in a similar manner to affinitive relationships below.

Ex: Meantime, our new library stand as as a confident symbol of the importance of ALL librarires to the nation's cultural, educational and economic success.

* anhelar ser = ache to be.

* a no ser que = unless.

* así es = that's how it is.

* así sea = amen.

* así son las cosas = that's they way things are.

* centrado en el ser humano = anthropocentric.

* clonación del ser humano = human cloning.

* como es el caso de = as it is with.

* cómo + ser = what + be like.

* conseguir ser el centro de atención = capture + spotlight.

* continuar siendo importante = remain + big.

* crearse el prestigio de ser = establish + a record as.

* cualquiera que fuere = any... whatsoever.

* cualquiera que fuese = any... whatsoever.

* cualquiera que sea + Nombre = whichever + Nombre.

* debilidad del ser humano = mankind's frailty.

* dejar de ser útil = outlive + Posesivo + usefulness.

* demostrar ser = prove + to be.

* de tal forma que + ser/estar = in such form as to + be.

* dicho sea de paso = by the by(e).

* dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres = you are known by the company you keep.

* dinero + ser para = money + go towards.

* el + Nombre + es inestimable = the + Nombre + cannot be overestimated.

* el ser barato = cheapness.

* el sueño de todo ser viviente = the stuff dreams are made of.

* entrar sin ser visto = sneak into.

* es = it's [it is].

* esa es la cuestión = herein lies the rub, there's the rub.

* esa es la dificultad = herein lies the rub, there's the rub.

* es decir = i.e. (latín - id est), in other words, that is, that is to say, which is to say.

* es de deducir que = it follows that.

* es de destacar que = significantly.

* es de esperar = hopefully.

* es de esperar que = all being well.

* es de resaltar que = significantly.

* es de suponer que = presumably.

* ese es el asunto = herein lies the rub, there's the rub.

* ese es el problema = herein lies the rub, there's the rub.

* es el momento adecuado = the moment is ripe, the time is ripe.

* es el momento oportuno = the moment is ripe, the time is ripe.

* es evidente = clearly.

* es importante destacar = importantly.

* es inevitable que = inevitably.

* es interesante que = interestingly.

* es lo que a mí me parece = my two cents' worth.

* es lo que yo pienso = my two cents' worth.

* es más = more important, moreover.

* es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo = easier said than done.

* es mi opinión = my two cents' worth.

* es mi parecer = my two cents' worth.

* es por lo tanto deducible que = it therefore follows that.

* es por lo tanto de esperar que = it therefore follows that.

* es por lo tanto lógico que = it therefore follows that.

* ¡esta es tu oportunidad! = here's your chance!.

* estar siendo + Participio = be in process of + Nombre.

* evitar ser afectado = escape + unaffected.

* fue durante mucho tiempo = long remained.

* haber sido aceptado = be here to stay, have come + to stay.

* haber sido comprobado exhaustivamente = be thoroughly tested.

* la razón de ser = the reason for being.

* la verdad sea dicha = to tell the truth.

* llegar a ser = become, develop into.

* llegar a ser conocido como = become + known as.

* lo que es aun peor = worse still.

* lo que es peor = what's worse.

* lo que haya que de ser, será = que sera sera, what's meant to be, will be, whatever will be, will be.

* lo que + ser = what + be like.

* lo que tenga que ser, será = que sera sera, whatever will be, will be, what's meant to be, will be.

* merecer ser mencionado = deserve + mention.

* no ser aconsejable = be undesirable.

* no ser + Adjetivo + Infinitivo = be less than + Adjetivo + Infinitivo.

* no ser así ya = be no longer the case.

* no ser bien visto = be in the doghouse.

* no ser cobarde = be no chicken.

* no ser consciente de = remain + unaware of.

* no ser deseable = be undesirable.

* no + ser + de sorprender que = it + be + not surprising that.

* no ser fácil = be no picnic, not be easy.

* no ser gran cosa = not add up to much, add up to + nothing.

* no ser lo suficientemente bueno = not be good enough.

* no ser más que = be nothing more than, be nothing but.

* no ser nada = add up to + nothing.

* no ser nada fácil = be hard-pushed to.

* no ser ningún jovencito = be no chicken.

* no ser ni una cosa ni otra = fall between + two stools.

* no ser sino = be nothing but.

* no ser una gran pérdida = be no great loss.

* no ser un lecho de rosas = be not all roses.

* no ser verdad = be untrue.

* no somos todos iguales = one size doesn't fit all.

* no tener razón de ser + Infinitivo = there + be + no sense in + Gerundio.

* para ser específico = to be specific.

* para ser franco = in all honesty.

* para ser sincero = to be honest, in all honesty.

* pasar a ser = become, develop into.

* por ser + Adjetivo = as being + Adjetivo.

* por si fuera poco = to boot, to add salt to injury, to rub salt in the wound.

* posible de ser consultado por máquina = machine-viewable.

* posible de ser visto en pantalla = displayable.

* primer puesto + ser para = pride of place + go to.

* puede muy bien ser = could well be.

* puede muy bien ser que = it may well be that.

* que fue = one-time.

* que fue común antes = once-common.

* que ha sido abordado con preguntas = accost.

* que puede ser apilado = stacking.

* razón de ser = point, raison d'etre, rationale, sense of purpose.

* ser reconocido = gain + recognition.

* resultar ser = prove + to be, turn out to be, happen + to be.

* sea como sea = be that as it may, at all costs, at any cost, at any price, come hell or high water.

* sea cual fuere = any... whatsoever, any... whatsoever.

* sea cual fuese = any... whatsoever, any... whatsoever.

* sea cual sea el criterio utilizado = by any standard(s).

* sea lo que sea = whatever it is, be that as it may, call it what you want.

* seamos realistas = face it, let's face it.

* sean cuales sean = whatever they may be.

* sentido del ser humano = human sense.

* ser accesible a través de = be available through.

* ser aceptado = take + hold, gain + acceptance, take off.

* ser acertado = be spot on.

* ser aconsejable = be welcome, be better served by, be in order.

* ser acorde con = be commensurate with.

* ser acuciante = be acute.

* ser acusado de delito criminal = face + criminal charge.

* ser adecuado = be right, stand up, fit + the bill.

* ser + Adjetivo = get + Adjetivo.

* ser + Adjetivo + para = have + a + Adjetivo + effect on.

* ser afectado por = have + a high stake in.

* ser aficionado a = be fond of.

* ser afortunado = be lucky, strike + lucky.

* ser agradable de oír = be good to hear.

* ser agradable + Verbo = be neat to + Verbo.

* ser algo bien conocido que = it + be + a (well)-known fact that.

* ser algo bueno = be a good thing.

* ser algo completamente distinto = be nothing of the sort.

* ser algo común = be a fact of life, dominate + the scene, be a common occurrence, become + a common feature, be a part of life.

* ser Algo demasiado difícil para = be in over + Posesivo + head, be out of + Posesivo + depth.

* ser algo excepcional = be the exception rather than the rule, be in a league of its own.

* ser algo fácil = be a cinch, be a doddle, be a breeze, be a picnic, be duck soup.

* ser algo facilísimo = be a cinch, be a doddle, be a breeze, be a picnic, be duck soup.

* ser algo habitual = become + a common feature, be a fact of life.

* ser Algo imponente = loom + large.

* ser algo inevitable = the (hand)writing + be + on the wall, see it + coming.

* ser algo más profundo que = go + deeper than.

* ser algo más serio que = go + deeper than.

* ser algo (muy) bien sabido que = it + be + a (well)-known fact that.

* ser algo muy claro = be a dead giveaway.

* ser algo muy fácil de conseguir = be there for the taking.

* ser Algo muy importante = loom + large.

* ser algo muy obvio = be a dead giveaway.

* ser algo muy poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo muy raro = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo muy revelador = be a giveaway.

* ser algo natural para = be second nature to + Pronombre, come + naturally to.

* ser algo normal = be a fact of life, become + a common feature, be a part of life.

* ser algo permanente = be here to stay.

* ser algo poco común = be the exception rather than the rule.

* ser algo poco conocido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser algo poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo poco sabido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser algo por lo que = be a matter for/of.

* ser algo por ver = be an open question.

* ser algo que no ocurre con frecuencia = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo seguro = be a cinch, be a doddle, be a breeze, be a picnic, be duck soup.

* ser algo útil para = be something in the hand for.

* ser amado = loved-one.

* ser amigo de = be buddies with.

* ser analizado como una frase = be phrase parsed.

* ser apreciado = receive + appreciation.

* ser apropiado = be right.

* ser aproximadamente + Número = be around + Número, be about + Número.

* ser arrestado = be under arrest.

* ser asequible = be available, become + available.

* ser asequible a = be amenable to.

* ser así = be the case (with), be just like that.

* ser atacado = be under attack, come under + fire, be under assault.

* ser atractivo = look + attractive, be popular in appeal.

* ser atrevido = make + a bold statement.

* ser atribuible a = be attributable to.

* ser aun más = be all the more.

* ser autosuficiente = stand on + Posesivo + own, self-serve.

* ser autosuficiente económicamente = pay + Posesivo + own way.

* ser avaricioso = have + Posesivo + cake and eat it.

* ser bienvenido = be most welcome, make + welcome, be welcome.

* ser bonito + Verbo = be neat to + Verbo.

* ser buenísimo + Gerundio = be terrific at + Gerundio.

* ser bueno = make + good + Nombre.

* ser bueno en = be good at.

* ser bueno para Alguien = be to + Posesivo + advantage.

* ser cada vez más importante = increase in + importance.

* ser capaz de = be capable of.

* ser capaz de hacer cualquier cosa por = go to + any lengths to, go to + great lengths to.

* ser característico de = be emblematic of.

* ser carísimo = cost + be prohibitive.

* ser caro = be steep.

* ser casi seguro = be a good bet.

* ser chiquito pero matón = punch above + Posesivo + weight.

* ser chulo = be cool.

* ser clavado a = be a dead ringer for.

* ser cliente de una tienda = patronise + shop.

* ser coherente = cohere.

* ser como el día y la noche = different as night and day.

* ser como hablar con la pared = be like talking to a brick wall.

* ser como mínimo = be no less than.

* ser como una esfera = wrap around.

* ser como un círculo = wrap around.

* ser como un libro abierto = be an open book.

* ser complementario el uno del otro = be integral one to another.

* ser complementarios = be integral one to another.

* ser completamente diferente = be in a different league.

* ser completo = be all inclusive.

* ser común = be the case (with).

* ser condenado a prisión = receive + prison sentence.

* ser confuso = be deceiving.

* ser conocido por = famously, have + a track record of.

* ser conocido por todos = be out in the open.

* ser consciente = sentient being.

* ser consciente de = be alive to, be aware of, be cognisant of, be mindful of/that, become + cognisant of, be aware of, realise [realize, -USA].

* ser consciente de + Posesivo + valía = be alive to + Posesivo + worth.

* ser consciente + desafortunadamente = be painfully aware of.

* ser contradictorio de = run + contrary to.

* ser contraproducente = defeat + Posesivo + purpose, blowback.

* ser contrario a = be contrary to, be hostile to.

* ser conveniente + Infinitivo = be as well + Infinitivo, be well + Infinitivo.

* ser correcto = be all right, be correct, be right.

* ser cortés con = be civil towards.

* ser costumbre = be customary.

* ser creativo = be inventive.

* ser creíble = invoke + belief.

* ser criticado = be subjected to + criticism, be (the) subject of/to criticism, take + heat, come under + fire.

* ser crucial (para) = be central (to).

* ser cuestión de = come down to.

* ser culpable = be to blame.

* ser culpable (por/de) = be at fault (for/to).

* ser dado a = be amenable to, be apt to, be given to.

* ser de = be a native of.

* ser de alto nivel = be at a high level.

* ser de armas tomar = be a (real) handful.

* ser de ayuda = be of assistance.

* ser debatible = be a moot point, be open to question, be open to debate, be at issue.

* ser de calidad = be up to snuff, be up to scratch.

* ser decisión de + Nombre = be down to + Nombre.

* ser de contenido + Adjetivo = be + Adjetivo + in content.

* ser de crecimiento rápido = be a quick grower.

* ser de difícil acceso = tuck away.

* ser de dominio público = be public domain.

* ser deficiente = be wanting.

* ser definitivo = be final.

* ser de gran ayuda para = be a boon to.

* ser de gran beneficio para = be of great benefit to.

* ser de importancia primordial = be of key importance.

* ser de importancia vital = lie at + the heart of.

* ser de interés para = be of interest (to/for).

* ser dejado en la obligación de Uno = be derelict in + duty.

* ser de la izquierda = be of the left.

* ser de la noche = night creature.

* ser de la opinión de que = be of the opinion that, be of the view that.

* ser del gusto de Uno = be to + Posesivo + taste.

* ser del orden de + Número = be of the order of + Número.

* ser de los que piensan que = subscribe to + view.

* ser demasiado = be over-provided, be a mouthful.

* ser demasiado + Adjetivo = be too + Adjetivo + by half.

* ser demasiado complaciente = lean over + too far backwards.

* ser demasiado común = be all too common.

* ser demasiado para = be too much for, be too much for.

* ser demasiado precavido = err + on the side of caution.

* ser demasiado preciso = put + too fine a point on, split + hairs.

* ser demasiado quisquilloso = put + too fine a point on, split + hairs.

* ser demasiado tarde para echar atrás = reach + the point of no return.

* ser de mucho uso = take + Nombre + a long way.

* ser de número limitado = be limited in number.

* ser de origen + Adjetivo = be + Adjetivo + in origin.

* ser de poco valor = be of little use, be of little value.

* ser de primera categoría = be top notch.

* ser de raza negra o de piel morena = be coloured.

* ser de sabios = be a point of wisdom.

* ser desacertado = miss + the mark, miss + the point.

* ser desastroso = spell + bad news, be a shambles, be (in) a mess.

* ser desconocido para = be alien to.

* ser descorazonador = be dispiriting.

* ser desoído = be unheeded.

* ser despiadado = play + hardball.

* ser detenido = be under arrest.

* ser de un solo uso = be a one-trip pony.

* ser de un tipo diferente = be different in kind, differ in + kind (from).

* ser de un valor especial = be of particular value.

* ser de uso general = be in general use, be generally available.

* ser de utilidad = be of use.

* ser de utilidad a = be of service to.

* ser diestro en = be skilled at.

* ser difícil = be a stretch.

* ser difícil de bregar = be a (real) handful.

* ser difícil de conseguir = be hard to get.

* ser difícil de creer = beggar + belief.

* ser difícil de encontrar = be hard to find.

* ser difícil de lograr = be hard to get.

* ser difícil de superar = take + some beating.

* ser digno de = merit.

* ser digno de admiración = deserve + admiration.

* ser digno de crítica = merit + a critical eye.

* ser digno de + Infinitivo = be worth + Gerundio.

* ser diplomático = say + the right thing.

* ser discutible = be open to question, be open to debate, be at issue.

* ser dogmático = be dogmatic.

* ser dos mundos completamente distintos = be poles apart.

* ser dudoso = be doubtful.

* ser duro = play + hardball.

* ser eficaz para + Infinitivo = be efficient at + Gerundio.

* ser el acabóse = take + the biscuit, take + the cake, be the limit.

* ser el alma de = be the life of, be the life and soul of.

* ser el asunto = be the point.

* ser el beneficiario de = be on the receiving end of.

* ser el blanco de = be a pushover for.

* ser el blanco de las críticas = come under + fire.

* ser el canalizador de = be the conduit for.

* ser el capitán = skipper, captain.

* ser el caso (de) = be the case (with).

* ser el centro de atención = steal + the limelight, steal + the show, cut + a dash.

* ser el centro de todas las miradas = cut + a dash.

* ser el colmo = be the last straw, bring + the situation to a head, take + the biscuit, take + the cake, be the limit.

* ser el contrincante más débil = punch above + Posesivo + weight.

* ser el culo del mundo = be the pits.

* ser elegido = get in.

* ser elevado = be steep.

* ser el éxito de la fiesta = steal + the limelight, steal + the show.

* ser el fin de = sign + a death warrant (for).

* ser el jefe = be in charge, call + the shots, be the boss, call + the tune, rule + the roost.

* ser el límite = be the limit.

* ser el mandamás = call + the shots, be the boss, call + the tune, rule + the roost.

* ser el más afectado por = bear + the brunt of.

* ser el máximo = be the limit.

* ser el momento clave = mark + the watershed.

* ser el momento (de) = be the time to.

* ser el momento decisivo = mark + the watershed.

* ser el momento de/para = it + be + time to/for.

* ser el objetivo de Uno = be in business for.

* ser el orgullo de = be the pride and joy of.

* ser el origen de = provide + the material for.

* ser el paraje natural de = be home to.

* ser el preludio = usher in.

* ser el primero = be second to none, come out on + top.

* ser el primero en = lead + the way in.

* ser el primero en + Infinitivo = take + the lead in + Gerundio.

* ser el punto de partida de = form + the basis of.

* ser el punto más débil de Alguien = be at + Posesivo + weakest.

* ser el punto más flaco de Alguien = be at + Posesivo + weakest.

* ser el que con mayor frecuencia = be (the) most likely to.

* ser el que con menor frecuencia = be (the) least likely to.

* ser el resultado de = follow from, result from.

* ser el segundo de a bordo = play + second fiddle.

* ser el último grito = be all the rage.

* ser el último mono ser el último mono = feel + pulled and tugged.

* ser emblemático de = be emblematic of.

* ser en balde = be of no avail, be to no avail.

* ser en cierto modo un + Nombre = be something of a + Nombre.

* ser en vano = be of no avail, be to no avail.

* ser enviado a = have + the lead to.

* ser equiparable a = be commensurate with.

* ser erróneo = be wide of the mark, be wrong.

* ser escaso = be few and far between, be in short supply.

* ser esclavo de = be slave to.

* ser estupendo = sound + great, be fine and dandy.

* ser estúpido = be off + Posesivo + rocker.

* ser exigente al elegir = pick and choose.

* ser exigente al escoger = pick and choose.

* ser experto en = be skilled at.

* ser expulsado de = be dropped from.

* ser extraño para = be alien to.

* ser extremadamente + Adjetivo = be too + Adjetivo + by half.

* ser fácil = be easy.

* ser fácil de conseguir = be readily available.

* ser facilísimo = be a snap, be a piece of cake.

* ser factible de = be amenable to.

* ser familiar = strike + familiar chords, ring + a bell.

* ser famoso = gain + recognition, be popular.

* ser famoso por = famously, have + a track record of.

* ser favorable = be a plus.

* ser ficticio = be fiction.

* ser fiel a = cleave to.

* ser fructífero = come to + fruition.

* ser goloso = have + a sweet tooth.

* ser grosero con = be abusive of.

* ser hábil para = be adroit at.

* ser habitual = be customary.

* ser harina de otro costal = be a different kettle of fish.

* ser hipertenso = be hyper.

* ser hora de = it + be + time to/for.

* ser hora de definirse = time to climb off the fence.

* ser hora de irse = be time to go.

* ser hora de marcharse = be time to go.

* ser hora ya de que = be about time (that), be high time (that/to/for).

* ser humilde = hide + Posesivo + light under a bushel.

* sería mejor que + Subjuntivo = better + Infinitivo.

* ser ideal = suit + best, be just the thing, be just the ticket, be just the job.

* ser ideal para Uno = be (right) up + Posesivo + alley, be + Posesivo + cup of tea.

* ser idóneo para = be suited to.

* ser ignorado = be unheeded.

* ser igual a = be equivalent to, equal.

* ser igual que = amount to + the same thing as.

* ser ilegal = be against the law.

* ser ilimitado = be boundless.

* ser implacable = play + hardball.

* ser imponente = be awe-inspiring.

* ser importante = be of importance, make + a difference, be of consequence.

* ser importantísimo = make + all the difference in the world, make + difference in the world.

* ser importantísimo (para) = be central (to).

* ser imposible = be dead meat.

* ser imprescindible = be a must.

* ser improcedente = be out of order.

* ser imprudente = be reckless.

* ser inalterable = set in + stone, set in + tablets of stone.

* ser incapaz de = be unable to.

* ser incoherente = Negativo + hold + water.

* ser incompatible (con) = be irreconcilable (with).

* ser inconsistente = Negativo + hold + water.

* ser increíble = beggar + belief.

* ser independiente = go + Posesivo + own way, stew in + Posesivo + own juice, stand on + Posesivo + own (two) feet.

* ser indescriptible = beggar + description.

* ser indispensable = be a must.

* ser ineficaz = fire + blanks.

* ser infundado = be unfounded.

* ser inherente a = inhere in.

* ser inimaginable = beggar + imagination.

* ser inminente = be on the cards.

* ser inmune a = be immune from, be immune against.

* ser innovador = break + new ground, break + ground.

* ser innumerable = be without number, be legion.

* ser innumerables = run into + the thousands.

* ser insignificante = pale into + insignificance, stick + Algo + on a pin-point, be of no consequence.

* ser insignificante de = be slight in.

* ser inteligente = be talented.

* ser interesante = be of interest (to/for).

* ser interesante + Infinitivo = be as well + Infinitivo, be well + Infinitivo.

* ser interesante + Verbo = be neat to + Verbo.

* ser interminable = there + be + no end to.

* ser intransigente = play + hardball.

* ser inútil = fire + blanks.

* ser irrespetuoso con = disrespect, diss.

* ser justo = play + fair.

* ser justo con todos = give the devil his due.

* ser justo hasta con el diablo = give the devil his due.

* ser justo lo que se necesita = be just the thing, be just the ticket, be just the job.

* ser justo lo que Uno necesita = be (right) up + Posesivo + alley.

* ser justo que = there + be + justice in.

* ser juzgado = stand + trial, stand for + trial.

* ser la abreviatura de = be short for.

* ser la base de = be at the core of, form + the basis of, be at the heart of.

* ser la ciudad de = be home to.

* ser la clave de = hold + the key to.

* ser la comidilla del barrio = be the talk of the town.

* ser la comidilla del pueblo = be the talk of the town.

* ser la consecuencia de = follow from, result from.

* ser la costumbre = be customary.

* ser la cuestión = be the point.

* ser la culminación de Algo = represent + the culmination of, mark + the culmination of.

* ser la culpa de = be the fault of.

* ser la debilidad de Alguien = be a sucker for.

* ser la elección lógica = be a/the natural choice.

* ser la elección natural = be a/the natural choice.

* ser la excepción = be the exception.

* ser la excepción a la regla = constitute + the exception to the rule.

* ser la excepción que confirma la regla = be the exception rather than the rule.

* ser la forma abreviada de = be short for.

* ser la forma de = be a recipe for.

* ser la fórmula para = be a recipe for.

* ser la gota que colma el vaso = bring + the situation to a head.

* ser la idea central de = be at the core of, be at the heart of.

* ser la imagen de = be a picture of.

* ser la intención = be the intention.

* ser la intención de uno = be + Posesivo + intention.

* ser la manera de = be a recipe for.

* ser la materia prima de = be grist to + Posesivo + mill.

* ser la mayoría = be in the majority.

* ser la mejor alternativa = be the best bet.

* ser la mejor manera de = be the conduit for.

* ser lamentable = be a pity.

* ser la minoría = be in the minority.

* ser la norma = be the norm, be the rule, become + the norm.

* ser la novedad = be on the scene.

* ser la obra de = be the work of.

* ser la persona ideal para = be the best placed to.

* ser la persona más indicada para = be in a position to.

* ser la propia responsabilidad de Alguien = be of + Posesivo + own making.

* ser la prueba de fuego de Algo = test + Nombre + to the limit.

* ser la punta de lanza de = spearhead.

* ser la razón de = lie at + the root of.

* ser la representación misma de = be a picture of.

* ser la responsabilidad de = be the responsibility of.

* ser la responsabilidad de Alguien + Infinitivo = it + lie with + Nombre/Pronombre + to + Infinitivo.

* ser la última palabra = be all the rage.

* ser la última persona del mundo que + Infinitivo = be one of the last people in the world to + Infinitivo.

* ser lector de una biblioteca = library membership.

* ser lento = be slow off the mark, be slow off the blocks.

* ser líder en = take + the lead in + Gerundio.

* ser lo de Uno = be cut out for, be (right) up + Posesivo + alley.

* ser lo más parecido a = be as close as we come to.

* ser lo mismo = be one and the same.

* ser lo normal = be the order of the day.

* ser lo principal de = be at the core of, be at the heart of.

* ser lo que a Uno le encanta = be (right) up + Posesivo + alley.

* ser lo que a Uno le gusta = be (right) up + Posesivo + alley, be + Posesivo + cup of tea.

* ser lo que a Uno le interesa = be (right) up + Posesivo + alley, be + Posesivo + cup of tea.

* ser lo que a Uno le va = be (right) up + Posesivo + alley.

* ser lo que a Uno más le gusta = be + Posesivo + big scene.

* ser lo que nos espera = be the shape of things to come.

* ser lo suficientemente + Adjetivo + como para = be + Adjetivo + enough to.

* ser lo suficientemente comprensivo = go + far enough.

* ser lo suficientemente conocido como para que = be sufficiently well known for.

* serlo todo para todos = be all things to all men, be all things to all people.

* ser lo último = be all the rage, be the pits.

* ser lo último en = become + the next stop in.

* ser lo último en lo que + pensar = be the last thing of + Posesivo + mind.

* ser lo último que + ocurrir + a Alguien = be the last thing of + Posesivo + mind.

* ser magnífico + Gerundio = be terrific at + Gerundio.

* ser malo = be a joke, spell + bad news, make + poor + Nombre.

* ser maravilloso = sound + great.

* ser más astuto que = outfox, outwit, outsmart.

* ser más interno = inner being.

* ser más un + Nombre = be more of a + Nombre.

* ser mayor = be older.

* ser mejor en = be better at.

* ser mejor que = be superior to, compare + favourably.

* ser mejor que + Subjuntivo = better + Infinitivo.

* ser menor = be less.

* ser menos + Adjetivo = be less of a(n) + Nombre.

* ser mínimo = be at a minimum.

* ser mirado de forma extraña = get + some funny looks.

* ser modesto = hide + Posesivo + light under a bushel.

* ser molesto = be disturbing.

* ser moroso = be in default.

* ser motivador = be motivating.

* ser motivo de preocupación = loom + large.

* ser mucho = be a mouthful.

* ser mucho más = be all the more.

* ser mucho más que = be far more than.

* ser muy aconsejable que = be well advised to.

* ser muy alto = be metres high.

* ser muy amigo de = be pally with.

* ser muy antiguo = go ba

* * *

SER

/ser/

feminine

= Sociedad Española de Radiodifusión

* * *

ser ( conjugate ser) cópula
1 ( seguido de adjetivos) to be
◊ ser expresses identity or nature as opposed to condition or state, which is normally conveyed by estar. The examples given below should be contrasted with those to be found in estar 1 cópula 1 es bajo/muy callado he's short/very quiet;

es sorda de nacimiento she was born deaf;
es inglés/católico he's English/(a) Catholic;
era cierto it was true;
sé bueno, estate quieto be a good boy and keep still;
que seas muy feliz I hope you'll be very happy;

(+ me/te/le etc)
◊ siempre le he sido fiel I've always been faithful to her;

ver tb imposible, difícil etc
2 ( hablando de estado civil) to be;
◊ el mayor es casado the oldest is married;

es viuda she's a widow;
ver tb estar 1 cópula 2
3 (seguido de nombre, pronombre) to be;
◊ soy abogada I'm a lawyer;

ábreme, soy yo open the door, it's me
4 (con predicado introducido por `de'):
◊ esos zapatos son de plástico those shoes are (made of) plastic;

soy de Córdoba I'm from Cordoba;
es de los vecinos it belongs to the neighbors, it's the neighbors';
no soy de aquí I'm not from around here
5 (hipótesis, futuro):
◊ será un error it must be a mistake;

¿será cierto? can it be true?
verbo intransitivo
1
a) ( existir) to be

b) (liter) ( en cuentos):

◊ érase una vez … once upon a time there was …

2
a) (tener lugar, ocurrir):

◊ la fiesta va a ser en su casa the party is going to be (held) at her house;

¿dónde fue el accidente? where did the accident happen?
b) ( en preguntas):

◊ ¿qué habrá sido de él? I wonder what happened to o what became of him;

¿qué es de Marisa? (fam) what's Marisa up to (these days)? (colloq);
¿qué va a ser de nosotros? what will become of us?
3 ( sumar):
◊ ¿cuánto es (todo)? how much is that (altogether)?;

son 3.000 pesos that'll be o that's 3,000 pesos;
somos diez en total there are ten of us altogether
4 (indicando finalidad, adecuación) ser para algo to be for sth;
◊ este agua es para beber this water is for drinking

( en locs)
◊ a no ser que (+ subj) unless;

¿cómo es eso? why is that?, how come? (colloq);
como/cuando/donde sea: tengo que conseguir ese trabajo como sea I have to get that job no matter what;
hazlo como sea, pero hazlo do it any way o however you want but get it done;
el lunes o cuando sea next Monday or whenever;
puedo dormir en el sillón o donde sea I can sleep in the armchair or wherever you like o anywhere you like;
de ser así (frml) should this be so o the case (frml);
¡eso es! that's it!, that's right!;
es que …: ¿es que no lo saben? do you mean to say they don't know?;
es que no sé nadar the thing is I can't swim;
lo que sea: cómete una manzana, o lo que sea have an apple or something;
estoy dispuesta a hacer lo que sea I'm prepared to do whatever it takes;
o sea: en febrero, o sea hace un mes in February, that is to say a month ago;
o sea que no te interesa in other words, you're not interested;
o sea que nunca lo descubriste so you never found out;
(ya) sea …, (ya) sea … either …, or …;
sea como sea at all costs;
sea cuando sea whenever it is;
sea donde sea no matter where;
sea quien sea whoever it is;
si no fuera/hubiera sido por … if it wasn't o weren't/hadn't been for …
( en el tiempo) to be;
◊ ¿qué fecha es hoy? what's the date today?, what's today's date;

serían las cuatro cuando llegó it must have been (about) four (o'clock) when she arrived;
ver tb v impers
ser v impers to be;
◊ era primavera it was spring(time)

ser v aux ( en la voz pasiva) to be;
fue construido en 1900 it was built in 1900
■ sustantivo masculino
1
a) ( ente) being;

◊ ser humano/vivo human/living being

b) (individuo, persona):

◊ un ser querido a loved one

2 ( naturaleza):
◊ desde lo más profundo de mi ser from the bottom of my heart

ser
I sustantivo masculino
1 being: es un ser despreciable, he's despicable
ser humano, human being
ser vivo, living being
2 (esencia) essence: eso forma parte de su ser, that is part of him
II verbo intransitivo
1 (cualidad) to be: eres muy modesto, you are very modest
2 (fecha) to be: hoy es lunes, today is Monday
ya es la una, it's one o'clock
3 (cantidad) eran unos cincuenta, there were about fifty people
(al pagar) ¿cuánto es?, how much is it?
son doscientas, it is two hundred pesetas
Mat dos y tres son cinco, two and three make five
4 (causa) aquella mujer fue su ruina, that woman was his ruin
5 (oficio) to be a(n): Elvira es enfermera, Elvira is a nurse
6 (pertenencia) esto es mío, that's mine
es de Pedro, it is Pedro's
7 (afiliación) to belong: es del partido, he's a member of the party
es un chico del curso superior, he is a boy from the higher year
8 (origen) es de Málaga, she is from Málaga
¿de dónde es esta fruta? where does this fruit come from?
9 (composición, material) to be made of: este jersey no es de lana, this sweater is not (made of) wool
10 ser de, (afinidad, comparación) lo que hizo fue de tontos, what she did was a foolish thing
11 (existir) Madrid ya no es lo que era, Madrid isn't what it used to be
12 (suceder) ¿qué fue de ella?, what became of her?
13 (tener lugar) to be: esta tarde es el entierro, the funeral is this evening 14 ser para, (finalidad) to be for: es para pelar patatas, it's for peeling potatoes
(adecuación, aptitud) no es una película para niños, the film is not suitable for children
esta vida no es para ti, this kind of life is not for you
15 (efecto) era para llorar, it was painful
es (como) para darle una bofetada, it makes me want to slap his face
no es para tomárselo a broma, it is no joke
16 (auxiliar en pasiva) to be: fuimos rescatados por la patrulla de la Cruz Roja, we were rescued by the Red Cross patrol
17 ser de (+ infinitivo) era de esperar que se marchase, it was to be expected that she would leave
♦ Locuciones: a no ser que, unless
como sea, anyhow
de no ser por..., had it not been for
es más, furthermore
es que..., it's just that...
lo que sea, whatever
o sea, that is (to say)
sea como sea, in any case o be that as it may
ser de lo que no hay, to be the limit
' ser' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
A
- acceder
- además
- aficionada
- aficionado
- alardear
- alcanzar
- alimentar
- alta
- alto
- ambicionar
- antigüedad
- aparición
- arma
- atinar
- atorarse
- aúpa
- babear
- básica
- básico
- bendición
- caber
- cacho
- cada
- cafetera
- cafetero
- calco
- callo
- canela
- cansada
- cansado
- cantar
- capaz
- capirote
- carácter
- cardo
- carne
- carné
- caso
- cero
- colarse
- comida
- comidilla
- comido
- conmigo
- conquistador
- conquistadora
- contagiarse
- contemplar
- contienda
English:
accountable
- addicted
- adjust
- allow
- allowance
- ambition
- amount to
- anathema
- anomaly
- arduous
- around
- aspire
- aware
- bad
- be
- beating
- being
- belong
- betray
- big
- bill
- bind over
- bird
- booby trap
- boring
- bounce
- can
- carry
- catch up
- cerebral
- ceremonial
- ceremony
- charm
- chip
- claim
- come into
- come under
- connoisseur
- court
- degree
- deserve
- destroy
- differ
- do
- dodger
- doubly
- due
- ear
- easy
- edit

* * *

ser The auxiliary verb ser is used with the past participle of a verb to form the passive (e.g. la película fue criticada the movie was criticized).

♦ v aux
[para formar la voz pasiva] to be;
fue visto por un testigo he was seen by a witness;

la propuesta es debatida o [m5] está siendo debatida en el parlamento the proposal is being debated in parliament

♦ v copulativo

1. [con adjetivos, sustantivos, pronombres] [indica cualidad, identidad, condición] to be;

es alto/gracioso he's tall/funny;

soy chileno/chiapaneco I'm Chilean/from Chiapas;

es azul/difícil it's blue/difficult;

sé discreta/paciente be discreet/patient;

es un amigo/el dueño he's a friend/the owner;

son unos amigos míos they're friends of mine;

es el cartero/tu madre it's the postman o US mailman/your mother;

soy yo, ábreme open up, it's me;

soy Víctor [al teléfono] it's Víctor;

la casa es aquella de ahí the house is that one over there;

es un tipo muy simpático he's a very nice guy;

¿es eso verdad? is that true?;

eso no es cierto that isn't true;

es obvio que le gustas it's obvious that he likes you;

no es necesario ir it isn't necessary to go;

es posible que llueva it may rain;

no está mal para ser de segunda mano it's not bad considering it's second-hand;

no pierde sus derechos por ser inmigrante just because he's an immigrant doesn't mean he doesn't have any rights;

te lo dejo en la mitad por ser tú seeing as o because it's you, I'll let you have it half-price;

por ser usted, señora, 15 euros to you, madam, 15 euros;

que seas muy feliz I wish you every happiness, I hope you'll be very happy;

¡será imbécil el tipo! the guy must be stupid!;

este restaurante ya no es lo que era this restaurant isn't as good as it used to be o isn't what it used to be;
RP Fam
ser loco por algo to be wild about sth

2. [con sustantivos, adjetivos] [indica empleo, dedicación, estado civil, religión] to be;

soy abogado/actriz I'm a lawyer/an actress;

son estudiantes they're students;

para ser juez hay que trabajar mucho you have to work very hard to be o become a judge;

es padre de tres hijos he's a father of three;

es soltero/casado/divorciado he's single/married/divorced;

era viuda she was a widow;

son budistas/protestantes they are Buddhists/Protestants;

el que fuera gobernador del estado the former governor of the state;

Comp
Am Fam
¿tú eres o te haces? are you stupid or what?;

Comp
RP Fam
¿vos sos o te hacés? are you stupid or what?

3. [con "de"] [indica material, origen, propiedad]
ser de [estar hecho de] to be made of;
[provenir de] to be from; [pertenecer a] to belong to;
un juguete que es todo de madera a completely wooden toy, a toy made completely of wood;

¿de dónde eres? where are you from?;

estas pilas son de una linterna these batteries are from a torch;

¿es de usted este abrigo? is this coat yours?, does this coat belong to you?;

los juguetes son de mi hijo the toys are my son's;

portarse así es de cobardes only cowards behave like that, it's cowardly to behave like that

4. [con "de"] [indica pertenencia a grupo]
ser de [club, asociación, partido] to be a member of;

¿de qué equipo eres? [aficionado] which team o who do you support?;

soy del Barcelona I support Barcelona;

ser de los que… to be one of those people who…;

ése es de los que están en huelga he is one of those on strike;

no es de las que se asustan por cualquier cosa she's not one to get scared easily

♦ vi

1. [ocurrir, tener lugar] to be;

fue aquí it was here;

¿cuándo es la boda? when's the wedding?;

la final era ayer the final was yesterday;

¿cómo fue lo de tu accidente? how did your accident happen?;

¿qué fue de aquel amigo tuyo? what happened to that friend of yours?;

¿qué es de Pablo? how's Pablo (getting on)?

2. [constituir, consistir en] to be;

fue un acierto que nos quedáramos en casa we were right to stay at home;

lo importante es decidirse the important thing is to reach a decision;

su ambición era dar la vuelta al mundo her ambition was to travel round the world;

tratar así de mal a la gente es buscarse problemas treating people so badly is asking for trouble

3. [con fechas, horas] to be;

¿qué (día) es hoy? what day is it today?, what's today?;

hoy es jueves today's Thursday, it's Thursday today;

¿qué (fecha) es hoy? what's the date today?, what date is it today?;

mañana será 15 de julio tomorrow (it) will be 15 July;

¿qué hora es? what time is it?, what's the time?;

son las tres (de la tarde) it's three o'clock (in the afternoon), it's three (pm);

serán o [m5] deben de ser las tres it must be three (o'clock)

4. [con precios] to be;

¿cuánto es? how much is it?;

son 300 pesos that'll be 300 pesos;

¿a cómo son esos tomates? how much are those tomatoes?

5. [con cifras, en operaciones] to be;

ellos eran unos 500 there were about 500 of them;

11 por 100 son 1.100 11 times 100 is 1,100

6. [servir, ser adecuado]
ser para to be for;

este trapo es para (limpiar) las ventanas this cloth is for (cleaning) the windows;

este libro es para niños this book is for children;

la ciudad no es para mí the city isn't for me

7. [con "de" más infinitivo] [indica necesidad, posibilidad]
es de desear que… it is to be hoped that…;

era de esperar que pasara algo así it was to be expected that something like that would happen;

es de suponer que aparecerá presumably, he'll turn up;

es de temer cuando se enoja she's really scary when she gets angry

8. [para recalcar, poner énfasis]
ése es el que me lo contó he's the one who told me;

lo que es a mí, no me llamaron they certainly didn't call me, they didn't call me, anyway;

¿es que ya no te acuerdas? don't you remember any more, then?, you mean you don't remember any more?

9. [indica excusa, motivo]
es que no me hacen caso but o the thing is they don't listen to me;

es que no vine porque estaba enfermo the reason I didn't come is that I was ill, I didn't come because I was ill, you see;

¿cómo es que no te han avisado? how come they didn't tell you?

10. Literario [existir]
Platón, uno de los grandes sabios que en el mundo han sido Plato, one of the wisest men ever to walk this earth

11. [en frases]
a no ser que venga unless she comes;

tengo que conseguirlo (sea) como sea I have to get it one way or another;

hay que evitar (sea) como sea que se entere we have to prevent her from finding out at all costs o no matter what;

hazlo cuando sea do it whenever;

de no ser/haber sido por… if it weren't/hadn't been for…;

de no ser por él no estaríamos vivos if it weren't for him, we wouldn't be alive;

de no ser así otherwise;

de ser así if that should happen;

déjalo donde sea leave it anywhere o wherever;

érase una vez, érase que se era once upon a time;

dile lo que sea, da igual tell her anything o whatever, it doesn't make any difference;

haré lo que sea para recuperar mi dinero I will do whatever it takes o anything to get my money back;

se enfadó, y no era para menos she got angry, and not without reason;

no sea que…, no vaya a ser que… in case…;

la llamaré ahora no sea que luego me olvide I'll call her now in case I forget later;

Estados Unidos y Japón, o sea, las dos economías mundiales más importantes the United States and Japan, that is to say o in other words, the two most important economies in the world;

50 euros, o sea unas 8.300 pesetas 50 euros, that's about 8,300 pesetas;

o sea que no quieres venir so you don't want to come then?;

por si fuera poco as if that wasn't enough;

habla con quien sea talk to anyone;

sea quien sea no abras la puerta don't open the door, whoever it is;

si no fuera/hubiera sido por… if it weren't/hadn't been for…;
Am
siendo que… seeing that o as…, given that…;
Am
siendo que tienes la plata, cómprate el vestido más caro seeing as o since you've got the money, buy yourself the more expensive dress

♦ v impersonal
[indica tiempo] to be;
es muy tarde it's rather late;

era de noche/de día it was night/day

♦ nm

1. [ente] being;

seres de otro planeta beings from another planet

Comp
ser humano human being;
Ser Supremo Supreme Being;

los seres vivos living things

2. [persona] person;

sus seres queridos his loved ones

3. [existencia]
mis padres me dieron el ser my parents gave me my life

4. [esencia, naturaleza] being;

la quiero con todo mi ser I love her with all my being o soul

* * *

SER

f abr (= Sociedad Española de Radiodifusión) network of independent Spanish radio stations

* * *

ser {77} vi

1) : to be

él es mi hermano: he is my brother

Camila es linda: Camila is pretty

2) : to exist, to live

ser, o no ser: to be or not to be

3) : to take place, to occur

el concierto es el domingo: the concert is on Sunday

4) (used with expressions of time, date, season)

son las diez: it's ten o'clock

hoy es el 9: today's the 9th

5) : to cost, to come to

¿cuánto es?: how much is it?

6) (with the future tense) : to be able to be

¿será posible?: can it be possible?

7)

ser de : to come from

somos de Managua: we're from Managua

8)

ser de : to belong to

ese lápiz es de Juan: that's Juan's pencil

9)

es que : the thing is that

es que no lo conozco: it's just that I don't know him

10)

¡sea! : agreed!, all right!

11)

sea... sea : either... or

ser v aux (used in passive constructions) : to be

la cuenta ha sido pagada: the bill has been paid

él fue asesinado: he was murdered

ser nm

: being

ser humano: human being

* * *

ser¹ n (ente) being

ser humano human being

ser vivo living creature

ser² vb

1. (en general) to be

mi amigo es alemán my friend is German

es médico he's a doctor

el cuadro es de Picasso the painting is by Picasso

cinco más cinco son diez five plus five are ten

serán quince euros that'll be fifteen euros

somos cinco there are five of us

la fiesta es el sábado the party is on Saturday

el presidente fue asesinado the president was murdered

2. (estar hecho) to be made

la mesa es de madera the table is made of wood

3. (pertenecer) to belong

este libro es de María this book belongs to María / this book is María's

a no ser que unless

a no ser que llueva unless it rains

érase una vez once upon a time

Spanish-English dictionary > ser

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Словари и энциклопедии на Академике

Перевод: с испанского на английский

the judge gave him a three-year prison sentence

См. также в других словарях:

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Словари и энциклопедии на Академике

Перевод: с испанского на английский

the judge gave him a three-year prison sentence

См. также в других словарях:

Поделиться ссылкой на выделенное

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