Phrase · 😏 Irony and understatement
Cuando el señor tenga a bien, nos vamos.
Whenever His Lordship sees fit, we'll leave.
C2mock deferencecolloquialAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Cuando1conjunctionwhenel3determinerthemasc. · sing. · definiteseñor3noungentleman (ironic: you)masc. · sing.tenga1verbsees fit (lit. has)tener · subjunctive · present · 3rd sing.a2preposition(as)bien2adverbgood,nospronoun(ourselves)nosotros · 1st pl.vamosverbleaveir · present · 1st pl..
- Cuando → tenga: cuando + subjunctive: future time
- tenga → bien: tener a bien: deign
- señor → tenga: el señor → 3rd person tenga
- nos → vamos: nos vamos: irse
Word for word: “When the gentleman has it as good, we go.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1cuando + present subjunctive for a future moment: cuando tenga a bien, never cuando tiene here. Time clauses: cuando, antes de que, hasta que →
- 2tener a bien = to see fit, deign: an official formula, used here for mock deference. Formal register: impersonalisation, nominalisation and correspondence →
- 3Calling someone el señor in the third person is mock formality: it teases a person who keeps everyone waiting. Advanced emphatic and exclamative structures →
Variations
- Cuando el señor se digne, nos vamos.
- Cuando la señora tenga a bien, nos vamos.
- Cuando quieras, nos vamos, ¿eh?