lo de
Lemma: lo de
Translation: the matter of; the issue of; the thing about; what happened with; the situation with (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.
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'.