Phrase · 🙄 Colloquial reactions
¡Vaya por Dios! Se me ha roto el paraguas.
Oh dear! My umbrella's broken.
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Why every word is where it is
¡Vaya1verboh dear (lit. may it go)ir · subjunctive · present · 3rd sing.por1prepositionbyDios1nounGod!Se2pronoun(accidental se)3rdme2object pronoun(on) meyo · 1st sing. · indirect objectha3verbhashaber · present · 3rd sing.roto3verbbrokenromper · participle · masc. · sing.eldeterminerthemasc. · sing. · definiteparaguasnounumbrellamasc. · sing..
- Vaya → Dios: ¡Vaya por Dios!: one formula
- Se → me: se me: accidental se + who is affected
- ha → roto: ha + irregular participle
- ha → paraguas: ha agrees with el paraguas
Word for word: “May it go by God! The umbrella has broken on me.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1¡Vaya por Dios! = oh dear!, typical of Spain: mild annoyance or resignation at a small mishap. It isn't felt as religious. Lexicalised imperatives and pragmatic particles →
- 2Accidental se + dative me: the umbrella broke "on me", through nobody's fault. Accidental se and the middle voice →
- 3roto is the irregular participle of romper (never rompido). Spain uses the present perfect for today. Present perfect: forms and experiential uses →
Variations
- ¡Vaya por Dios! Se me rompió el paraguas.
- ¡Qué mala suerte! Se me ha roto el paraguas.
- ¡Ay, no! Se me rompió el paraguas.