Translating "you do" vs "one does"

Question

Hi Everyone,

Frequently in English, when explaining a general process or event, we use the second person. I'll give you the example I'm experiencing:

"When you travel alone you meet more people"

(or, what I'm saying in Spanish, something like "Cuando viajes solo, puedes conocer mas gente")

Of course, what we technically mean is:

"When one travels alone, one meets more people"

I'm wondering if I can translate the the first sentence directly (i.e. in the second person), or whether in Spanish it's more correct to say it differently.

Thanks very much! It keeps popping into my head while I'm trying to speak, and I'm wondering if I'm on the right track.

Asher.

Answer 1

Hi and welcome to the forum. I'd use the impersonal "se" in this case.

"When one travels alone, one meets more people."

Cuando se viaja solo, se puede conocer más gente.

• thanks for that! "se" is the subject in this case? (se and its many meanings always confuses me) - asherf Dec 4, 2009