O sea....what does this mean?

Question

I am gathering from context that the use of the phrase "o sea" expresses something equal to...

"perhaps" or "it could be that" or in spanish "quíza(s) or tal vez".....

Not sure...

Please shed light on this phrase and provide examples and their translations.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Literally, "o sea" means something like "or it might be". I would translate it as something a bit more idiomatic like

That is (to say)

I mean

or as the case may be

or in other words

or rather

For example:

Tuvo que existir una dispensación, o periodo de tiempo donde todo el mundo estaba bajo el juicio de Dios, o sea bajo la ley..

There had to be a dispensation or period of time where the whole world was under God's judgement, that is to say/or in other words under the law.

Answer 2

o sea = es decir = lo que quiero decir es que

Answer 3

It also depends on the context. "O sea" is a very popular phrase that people here in Mexico (especially teens and young adults "fresas") that doesn't quite have a meaning and is hard to translate. For instance:

"Ay... o sea, ¿no?"

I would have a bit of a hard time translating that. It would be something like a sarcastic or a taunting "give me a break".

Answer 4

You're right. All ways are similar. It's like "it would be that...".