Phrase · 😏 Irony and understatement
No es muy simpático que digamos.
He's not exactly friendly.
C2understatement (criticism)informalAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
No1adverbnotesverbisser · present · 3rd sing.muyadverbverysimpático2adjectivefriendly, pleasantmasc. · sing.que1conjunction(let us)digamos1verbsaydecir · subjunctive · present · 1st pl..
- que → digamos: que digamos: understatement tag
- No → digamos: que digamos needs a negative
- es → simpático: ser + adjective: trait
Word for word: “He isn't very friendly, that we may say.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1que digamos after a negative = not exactly: no es muy simpático que digamos = he's rather unpleasant. Only in negative sentences. Advanced emphatic and exclamative structures →
- 2simpático = friendly, pleasant: a personality trait, so ser. Feminine simpática. Ser vs estar I: characteristics and states →
Variations
- No es lo que se dice simpático.
- No es precisamente simpático.
- Muy simpático no es, la verdad.