No puedo corresponderte

Question

Is this used pretty often for "to love someone". I can't love you? It's wierd that a word like correspond would also mean to love. He pushes a girl away and says "Lo siento, no puedo corresponderte". Gracias.

Nice thread. I think that in English we would use "respond" in this context. Probably why you weren't seeing it. - 0074b507, Jun 3, 2010

Answer 1

Hi, Jeezle. In this context it means "I can't love you back".

So it has nothing to do with correspondence, as I suspected? Gracias. - jeezzle, Jun 2, 2010

Answer 2

Actually, our dictionary explains it rather well; look up "corresponder":

"ella nunca correspondió a mi amor -> she never returned my love, she never felt the same way about me "

"My feelings do not match yours".

See Samdie's reply . That's the best answer. - Gekkosan, Jun 3, 2010

Answer 3

This use of "correspond" was not at all unusual a hundred years ago. Somewhat more modern usage would probably substitute "respond to" or "reciprocate"

That's the word I was searching for! Yes, recirprocate is the exact direct translation! - Gekkosan, Jun 3, 2010

Answer 4

I think in that sense it's more like, I can't be with you. Like, "I can't correspond to you" "there can't be anything that corresponds me to you". It can also mean to belong, if something corresponds to you it belongs to you. So "I can't belong to you" could also work.

Good, excellent explanation. I wasn't getting it. - margaretbl, Jun 2, 2010

Answer 5

"Corresponderse con algo' is 'to match something'... that's the best I can think of. I doubt I've ever heard it used the way it is written tho.