Not to mention... how to say

Question

Hi all,

So I've been doing some practice writing for a Spanish exam coming up, and one phrase that I have come across before (though I can't remember where I saw it) is 'not to mention', as in 'not to mention the lack of sunlight'.

So anyone who knows how to say this phrase, and anything like it, that would be a big help.

Ooh, and another phrase, though not so important, 'monkey see, monkey do'. There must be a phrase like this in Spanish, but neither my teacher nor her big book of phrases know it, so if anyone's got a 'monkey see monkey do' equivalent, that would be awesome too.

Thanks,

Ryan

• isn´t it ´monkey sees, monkey does´? - mediterrunio Nov 25, 2010

Answer 1

'not to mention',

..y (ya) no hablemos de.....

Monkey see, monkey do...

Culo veo, culo quiero

Sounds a bit rude, but it is very colloquial.

• Heidita! I´m really surprised Please use appropaiate language, this is a learning site and blablabla :-P. Anyway, your answer is so accurate :-D - mediterrunio Nov 25, 2010

Answer 2

There are a lot of ways to say 'not to mention' or an equivalent saying at least:

Ni que decir de... Ni hablar de...

sin mencionar

sin contar que

and sometimes even: por supuesto

And if you feel a little shy to use Heidi's colourful but common phrase I could be wrong but I think this is a more literal (Mexican?) equivalent of monkey see, monkey do.

Lo que hace el chango hace la changa.

• What is the translation of your last statement? - JoyceM Nov 25, 2010
• Mono = españa chango = méjico - margaretbl Nov 25, 2010

Answer 3

No, it's monkey see monkey do. That's just a phrase so don't learn the construction because the official construction of that phrase is weird Mediterrunio also, I say no mencionar, no decir que.... I've not heard sin to be used there, but looking it up see it is used. Also I see "por no mencionar" used, I wonder if that means not to mention too. Is "no decir que" the same as "ni decir que" do you think?