Phrase · ⚖️ Legal and administrative language
Sea como fuere, el contrato ya está firmado.
Be that as it may, the contract has already been signed.
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Why every word is where it is
Sea2verbbe itser · subjunctive · present · 3rd sing.comoadverbhoweverfuere1verbit may be (future subj.)ser · subjunctive · future · 3rd sing.,eldeterminerthemasc. · sing. · definitecontratonouncontractmasc. · sing.yaadverbalreadyestá3verbisestar · present · 3rd sing.firmado3verbsignedfirmar · participle · masc. · sing..
- Sea → fuere: sea … fuere: one verb, two subjunctives
- está → firmado: estar + participle: resulting state
- firmado → contrato: firmado agrees with contrato (m. sg.)
Word for word: “Be it however it may be, the contract is already signed.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1fuere is the future subjunctive of ser, alive only in formulas and legal texts. Modern alternative: sea como sea. Future subjunctive and legal / archaic forms →
- 2The formula repeats the verb: present subjunctive + future subjunctive (sea … fuere). Future subjunctive and legal / archaic forms →
- 3estar + participle describes the resulting state: the signing is done. The participle agrees with contrato. Passive voice and resultative estar →
Variations
- Sea como sea, el contrato ya está firmado.
- En cualquier caso, el contrato ya está firmado.
- Como quiera que sea, el contrato ya está firmado.