Phrase · 📜 Proverbs in conversation
Tú eres contador, no médico; zapatero, a tus zapatos.
You're an accountant, not a doctor; stick to what you know.
C2telling someone to stay in their laneinformallearned as a wholeAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Tú4pronounyou2nd sing. · subjecteresverbareser · present · 2nd sing.contador3nounaccountantmasc. · sing.,noadverbnotmédiconoundoctormasc. · sing.;zapatero1nounshoemakermasc. · sing.,a2prepositiontotus1determineryourtu · 2nd pl.zapatos1nounshoeszapato · masc. · pl..
- zapatero → zapatos: frozen proverb
- tus → zapatos: tus agrees with zapatos (pl.)
- Tú → eres: tú agrees with eres
Word for word: “You are an accountant, not a doctor; shoemaker, to your shoes.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Zapatero, a tus zapatos = stick to what you know (lit. shoemaker, to your shoes).
- 2No verb: an order in shorthand (dedícate a tus zapatos). Natural but blunt: use it with people you know well.
- 3contador = accountant in Latin America; Spain says contable.
- 4The explicit tú adds contrast and a reproachful tone. Subject pronouns and forms of address: tú, usted, ustedes →
Variations
- Eres contador, no médico; zapatero, a tus zapatos.
- Tú eres contable, no médico; zapatero, a tus zapatos.
- Tú eres contador, no médico; mejor no opines de eso.