¡Dios mío! ¡mi Dios!

Question

If mío means "mine" how does "Dios mío" translate to "my" God and not "mine God"? The three translators render the same thing, "my God".

Answer 1

The RAE says this:

Pospuesto a ciertos sustantivos, expresa cariño.

I wonder if this might be one of those cases

Oh boy. - margaretbl, JUN 8, 2010

genial como siempre izan:) - 00494d19, JUN 9, 2010

Perfect. - --Mariana--, JUN 9, 2010

Answer 2

If mío means "mine" how does "Dios mío" translate to "my" God and not "mine God"? The three translators render the same thing, "my God". Well as you know already '¡Dios mío! ' means 'My God' and then 'es mío' is 'it's mine' but what about 'hijo mío' - that's 'my son'. So I am just trying to say they're a bit loose....

I'm not so sure about playing loose with God ... ;) - LateToDinner, JUN 8, 2010

Whoops, didn't mean that. but I see where you are going - margaretbl, JUN 8, 2010

Answer 3

we say "Dios mio!" sometimes we say "oh por Dios!" and mi Dios! too the word OMG can translate with all those transaltions =)

...those translations - Izanoni1, JUN 8, 2010

thanks ... :P - wirita, JUN 8, 2010

Answer 4

I guess this is one of those "accept it and don't try to figure it out" type of things. It's funny to me that 'rules of grammar' are to live and die by, except for all the stuff that can't be explained.

I share your frustration but I have become much more 'accepting' - 'Oh, just cause that's how you say it? Okay!" - margaretbl, JUN 9, 2010