ni muy muy ni tan tan
Lemma Details
Translation: neither great nor terrible; mediocre; so-so; average; nothing special
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: This Spanish colloquial expression combines 'ni' (neither/nor) with repetitions of 'muy' (very) and 'tan' (so). The repetition of words is a common intensifier in Spanish colloquial speech. The phrase literally translates to 'neither very very nor so so' and is used to indicate something that is neither exceptionally good nor bad - just average.
Commonality: 60%
Guessability: 20%
Register: informal
Example Usage
¿Qué tal estuvo la película? Ni muy muy ni tan tan, la verdad.
How was the movie? Neither great nor terrible, to be honest.
El restaurante nuevo es ni muy muy ni tan tan. No vale la pena hacer una reservación.
The new restaurant is just average. It's not worth making a reservation.
Su presentación fue ni muy muy ni tan tan. Podría haber sido mejor.
His presentation was so-so. It could have been better.
Mnemonics
- Think of someone shrugging their shoulders while saying 'muy muy' and 'tan tan' - the repetition emphasizes the mediocrity.
- Imagine a balance scale with 'muy muy' (very very) on one side and 'tan tan' (so so) on the other, perfectly balanced in the middle - neither extreme.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This expression is commonly used in casual conversation throughout Latin America and Spain when giving an opinion that is neither strongly positive nor negative. It's a diplomatic way to express mediocrity without being too harsh.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both expressions indicate mediocrity, 'así así' is simpler and more direct, while 'ni muy muy ni tan tan' is more expressive and emphasizes the middle ground between extremes.
Confused word:
¿Cómo te sientes hoy? Así así.
How do you feel today? So-so.
Notes: 'Ni muy muy ni tan tan' is more colorful and expressive than the simpler 'así así', making it slightly more informal and conversational.
Mnemonic: 'Ni muy muy ni tan tan' is longer and more emphatic, like saying 'not THIS, not THAT' with gestures.
Explanation: Both expressions indicate mediocrity, but 'ni fu ni fa' is more idiomatic and less transparent in meaning, while 'ni muy muy ni tan tan' more clearly expresses the idea of being neither very good nor very bad.
Notes: Both expressions are colloquial, but 'ni fu ni fa' might be considered slightly more idiomatic and potentially more difficult for learners to understand without context.
Mnemonic: 'Ni muy muy ni tan tan' uses actual descriptive words (muy = very, tan = so), while 'ni fu ni fa' uses nonsense syllables.