Phrase · 📜 Proverbs in conversation
Siempre anda con esos tramposos; dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.
He's always hanging out with those cheats; you are the company you keep.
C2warning about bad companylearned as a wholeAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Siempreadverbalwaysanda3verbhe hangs outandar · present · 3rd sing.conprepositionwithesosdeterminerthoseese · masc. · pl.trampososnouncheatstramposo · masc. · pl.;dime2verbtell medecir · imperative · 2nd sing.con1prepositionwithquién1pronounwhomandas1verbyou go aroundandar · present · 2nd sing.y1conjunctionandte1object pronounyoutú · 2nd sing. · indirect objectdiré4verbI'll telldecir · future · 1st sing.quién1pronounwhoeres1verbyou areser · present · 2nd sing..
- dime → eres: frozen proverb
- dime → diré: imperative + y + future: a condition
- quién → andas: con quién: indirect question
Word for word: “…tell me who you walk with and I will tell you who you are.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres = you are judged by the company you keep.
- 2Imperative + y + future works as a condition (if you tell me…, I'll tell you…). Natural, but preachy if aimed at someone. Conditions without si: como, en caso de que, a menos que, gerund, imperative →
- 3andar con alguien = to hang out with someone (colloquially, also to date them).
- 4diré: irregular future of decir. Simple future →
Variations
- Siempre anda con esa gente; dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.
- Ojo con sus amigos: dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.
- Se junta con puros tramposos; dime con quién andas…