An Interesting Colloquialism: "Ya estuvo."

Question

I just learned an interesting colloquialism from my wife's mother. "Ya estuvo." She uses it to mean fine, that's it, it's not worth talking about anymore dismissively. I don't know if it is limited to Mexican Spanish or is more universal. Maybe everyone else already knows it. I had just never heard it before.

• To your "Like una suegra" below to ChamacoMalo, lol :D! But cherish her while you have her! - Jubilado Jan 13, 2012
• Si, yo sé y la quiero. Pero tenemos las diferencias culturales que a veces chocan! - ocbizlaw Jan 13, 2012

Answer 1

We have something similar in Argentina. We say "ya fue".

• Ya fue is good because it falls somewhere...Guillermo, I never could understandy why ya tubo just grates on my nerves. - ChamacoMalo Sep 28, 2009
• Maybe it's susposed to...which is why they use it. I heard it on Cops once...just like nails on a blackboard for me. - ChamacoMalo Sep 28, 2009

Answer 2

I hope this isn't too stupid but what do you mean when you say "it falls somewhere"?

• Good - I'd like to know too. - ian-hill Sep 28, 2009
• Make that three ... - territurtle Jan 13, 2012

Answer 3

No, its very Mexican. It's like if you are in a fight or whatever and you want it to stop. You give up. Ya estuvo. I don't now if it's good spanish or not (not my type of thing to make that kind of judgement) but it falls to my ears harsh. I'd never use it. It's just rough, kinda ewwww! sounding.

• Just like una suegra! - ocbizlaw Sep 28, 2009

Answer 4

I'm from Spain and I'd never heard that before

Answer 5

It sounds like a good English translation would be "yeah, whatever" as an argumentative dismissive. :D

Glad to know it, gracias!

Answer 6

"Yea whatever" has a translation, it's "que sea." That's why that ya estuvo thing is ewww sounding...it doesn't fall anywhere...

• I believe that should be "lo que sea" - rodneyp Jul 29, 2011

Answer 7

In Spain (elsewhere?), it's common to say "ya está", basically meaning "that's it (enough)". Pretty similar.

e.g. Solo quiero que me ayudes a mover el sillón, y ya está.

or.. No voy a discutirlo! Ya está!

• Buenos ejemplos. ¡Gracias! - territurtle Jan 13, 2012

Answer 8

I see this post is somewhat old. But often times when you "punch" things into google explanations appear [from sites like this] and it's helpful to add to what one has heard.

I was in Oaxaca de Juarez in México la semana pasada and one of the teachers told me that in their region, "YA ESTUVO" is also used as a greeting.

So, you would say to a person... [the example I was given] Ya estuvo? ... are you finished with your day... are done with work... everything done for the day? and the response could be, in fact, "Si, ya estuvo," yes... it's done (my work, my job, whatever it is that I needed to finish).

I am not a native speaker, but again a teacher in Oaxaca told me this is how it colloquially functions in this part of México.

Ya

Answer 9

It's just a speech thing, for something to "fall" somewhere. Eso me cae bien. I like that. Esa cae gordo. I don't like that. Ya estuvo, how it's used, doesn't fall anywhere. It just doesn't, not for me. I can't expain it, it's an internal thing. To me, it's like "ewwww....where did you learn that trash from?" and it's just not my form to say bad things about how people use spanish. But in this case? ewwwwww.....

Answer 10

It actually can be traslate as.....it is done,or enough (if you are having an argument or someone is acting up-misbehaving-)...................................... ¿Todavia estas trabajando en la tarea?................Are you still working on the homework?........................................... No, ya estubo............No it is done.......................................

Answer 11

It depends as you can you use it in different situations.contexts:

¡Ya estuvo!

(It is) Done. (I completed something, and I say it, or I answer to someone)

I am done! (enough!) I am going to punch you or something,

Ok, that's enough arguing...

Answer 12

For those who would know these things....Is this similar to "demalas"?

(and in case some are wondering...no, I'm not misconstruing "dema las" or "de malas" )

• Si ya se, tu repuesta esta abjao. ;-) - ChamacoMalo Sep 28, 2009

Answer 13

De malas is something you use to say what it says. Esa me cae gordo porque es de malas. It's from a bad thing, and only bad can come from bad. He was going to fix my car, but I didn't trust him, he's de malas. He 's from bad training. He's from a horrible school.

Answer 14

In Spain (elsewhere?), it's common to say "ya está", basically meaning "that's it (enough)".

What I came across is "ya está" - "that's it (done/ready/finished)". Not argumentative in this case...