lo de
Lemma Details
Translation: the matter of; the issue of; the thing about; what happened with; the situation with
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: This phrase combines the neuter definite article 'lo' (derived from Latin 'illud') with the preposition 'de' (from Latin 'de' meaning 'of/from'). The construction creates a way to refer to situations, matters, or issues in an abstract way.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 40%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
¿Qué pasó con lo de tu trabajo?
What happened with that job situation of yours?
No me has contado lo de tu viaje a Madrid.
You haven't told me about your trip to Madrid.
Lo de ayer fue increíble.
What happened yesterday was incredible.
No entiendo lo del nuevo proyecto.
I don't understand the thing about the new project.
¿Te acuerdas de lo de la fiesta?
Do you remember about the party?
Mnemonics
- 'Lo de' points to 'the deal with' something - think of it as a verbal pointer to a topic.
- Remember it as 'the low-down' on something, which sounds a bit like 'lo de'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
This phrase is frequently used in Spanish conversation to refer to situations, events, or topics that are known to the speakers. It's a concise way to reference shared knowledge without having to fully explain it.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Lo de' refers to a situation or matter, while 'lo que' means 'what' or 'that which' and is used to introduce relative clauses.
Notes: 'Lo de' is typically followed by a noun or pronoun, while 'lo que' is typically followed by a verb.
Mnemonic: 'Lo de' points to a topic (DE-fined topic), while 'lo que' introduces what happened (QUE-st for information).
Explanation: While both refer to situations or matters, 'lo de' is more neutral and can refer to something specific to the listener, while 'eso de' has a slight distancing effect and often implies the speaker's skepticism or unfamiliarity.
Confused word:
No me convence eso de trabajar los domingos.
I'm not convinced about that idea of working on Sundays.
Notes: 'Lo de' is more commonly used when referring to something the listener is directly involved with.
Mnemonic: 'Lo de' is neutral like 'low', while 'eso de' has a hint of distance like 'so far away'.