The phrase "venir a cuento" functions as a verbal phrase (idiomatic expression).
/veniɾ a kwento/
"Venir a cuento" is an idiom used to indicate that something is relevant or pertinent to the conversation at hand. It is often used when someone introduces a topic or remark that connects well to the ongoing discussion. The frequency of use in Spanish is quite high, particularly in conversational contexts rather than formal written forms.
Vino a cuento cuando discutíamos sobre el clima.
(It came up as relevant when we were discussing the weather.)
Su comentario no venía a cuento en esa parte de la presentación.
(His comment was not relevant at that part of the presentation.)
Ese ejemplo viene a cuento en nuestra conversación sobre el arte.
(That example is relevant to our conversation about art.)
The phrase "venir a cuento" is common in various idiomatic expressions in Spanish. Here are additional examples:
Su historia llegó a cuento en la charla sobre experiencias de vida.
(His story came up as relevant in the chat about life experiences.)
El dicho "todo llega a su tiempo" viene a cuento en esta situación.
(The saying "everything comes in its time" is relevant in this situation.)
No sé si eso viene a cuento en el debate actual.
(I don’t know if that is relevant in the current debate.)
Sus consejos siempre vienen a cuento cuando siento dudas.
(His advice always is pertinent when I feel doubts.)
Se me ocurrió que sería útil, pero no sé si eso venga a cuento aquí.
(It occurred to me that it might be useful, but I don’t know if that’s relevant here.)
Tu experiencia en el extranjero realmente viene a cuento al hablar de cultura.
(Your experience abroad is truly relevant when talking about culture.)
Al mencionar sus años de servicio, eso sí viene a cuento.
(Mentioning his years of service is indeed relevant.)
The expression "venir a cuento" has its roots in the Spanish language, where "venir" means "to come" and "cuento" means "tale" or "story." The phrase essentially suggests that something comes up in relation to a story or narrative, linking it to the relevance or pertinence of a conversation.
Synonyms:
- ser relevante
- ser pertinente
- ser apropiado
Antonyms:
- ser irrelevante
- ser inapropiado
- ser fuera de lugar
The phrase "venir a cuento" is deeply embedded in conversational Spanish, showcasing the importance of context in communication and how certain comments or topics become relevant based on the ongoing dialogue.