Phrase · 🙄 Colloquial reactions
Fíjate que mañana no voy a poder ir.
You know what, I won't be able to make it tomorrow.
C2breaking bad news gentlyinformales-MXAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Fíjate1verbyou know what (lit. notice)fijarse · imperative · 2nd sing.que1conjunctionthatmañanaadverbtomorrownoadverbnotvoy2verbI'm goingir · present · 1st sing.a2preposition(to)poder2verbbe ableinfinitiveirverbgoinfinitive.
- Fíjate → que: fíjate que: softener
- voy → poder: ir a + infinitive
- poder → ir: poder + infinitive
Word for word: “Notice that tomorrow I'm not going to be able to go.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Fíjate que… (Mexico, Central America) gently introduces news, often bad news or an excuse. Imperative of fijarse + te, with an accent. Lexicalised imperatives and pragmatic particles →
- 2no voy a poder + infinitive: future with ir a, softer than a flat no puedo. Ir a + infinitive: plans and predictions →
Variations
- Fíjese que mañana no voy a poder ir.
- Oye, resulta que mañana no puedo ir.
- Mira, es que mañana no voy a poder ir.