Please will someone translate this sentence:"¡Vaya con el padre Hugo!"

Question

The sense implies that this is a cynical observation

Answer 1

Here is my beginner's attempt:

Well, "vaya" is both the subjunctive and the imperative of "ir" but is apparently used here because it is the imperative/command/mandato form meaning "Go". Combined with "con", "vaya con" implies "go with." However, according to discussions on WordReference, it appears that "Vaya con " indicates a more jestful tone, e.g. "Look at father Hugo; I never expected"

• I like your translation better than mine. - mtmonadnock Feb 14, 2012
• This seems to be a good fit, many thanks - davebritton Feb 14, 2012

Answer 2

Well "vaya" can be used as an exclamation of surpise but I would have expected it to be written as,

¡Vaya! ¡Con el padre Hugo! - which could mean something like, Look at that, what's up with father Hugo?

Answer 3

Maybe I'm being a bit simple-minded, but "vaya con Dios" means "go with God."

Hugo is capitalized so it's probably the name of someone/something.

Could Vaya con el padre Hugo simply mean "Go with the father Hugo."?

• Yes, but I think it is meant to be less serious than "Vaya con Dios". Check with WordReference, but I think Eddy is right, and he is an advanced speaker. - xocoyote Feb 14, 2012
• I agree¡ - mtmonadnock Feb 14, 2012