o sea (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

• "o sea" is a conjunction and a phrase used in informal conversation.

Phonetic Transcription

• /o ˈsea/

Translation Options into English

• "that is to say"
• "in other words"
• "I mean"

Meaning and Usage

• "o sea" is an expression commonly used in spoken Spanish to clarify or rephrase something previously mentioned. It serves to introduce a paraphrase or elucidate a point, indicating that the speaker is about to provide further explanation or restate their thought in a different way.
• It is frequently used in oral speech, especially in casual conversations, making it more prevalent in informal contexts rather than written discourse.

Example Sentences

1. "No me gusta mucho el chocolate, o sea, prefiero la vainilla."

2. "I don't really like chocolate, that is to say, I prefer vanilla."

3. "Estaba cansado, o sea, no podía concentrarme."

4. "I was tired, in other words, I couldn't concentrate."

5. "Si llegas tarde, o sea, perderás el tren."

6. "If you arrive late, I mean, you will miss the train."

Idiomatic Expressions

The phrase "o sea" is often found in various idiomatic structures to provide emphasis or clarification. Here are some idiomatic expressions and their translations:

1. "No sé, o sea, no tengo idea."

2. "I don't know, I mean, I have no idea."

3. "Es un buen amigo, o sea, siempre está allí cuando lo necesito."

4. "He is a good friend, that is to say, he is always there when I need him."

5. "Me gustan las películas de acción, o sea, no puedo resistirlas."

6. "I like action movies, in other words, I can't resist them."

7. "Estudiaste mucho, o sea, pasaste el examen sin problemas."

8. "You studied a lot, I mean, you passed the exam without problems."

9. "Siempre voy al gimnasio, o sea, trato de mantenerme en forma."

10. "I always go to the gym, that is to say, I try to stay fit."

11. "La comida estaba deliciosa; o sea, quiero volver a este restaurante."

12. "The food was delicious; in other words, I want to go back to this restaurant."

Etymology

The phrase "o sea" comes from the Spanish word "sea," which is the first person singular present subjunctive form of the verb "ser" (to be). The word "o" is the conjunction meaning "or." The combination suggests an explanatory or clarifying statement.

Synonyms and Antonyms

• Synonyms:
• "es decir" (that is to say)

• "en otras palabras" (in other words)

• Antonyms:

• There are no direct antonyms as "o sea" is primarily a clarifying expression, but one could consider phrases like "en resumen" (in summary) which implies a conclusion rather than clarification.