Idiom: "It is what it is"

Question

Is there a better way to say the idiom "It is what it is" other than the straight literal "que es lo que es"?

Answer 1

A popular idiom in Mexico and somewhat similar to this one is, "Por eso estamos como estamos."

Answer 2

I'm tempted to offer:-

Es lo qué es.

Está lo qué está.

These are only guesses, I'm only a beginner speculating some possibilities.

Wait for some other answers.

Es lo qué es is a literal translation, but I've never heard it. Es lo que parece is the closest in meaning. - Jeremias, Aug 5, 2010

My guesses seem too obvious, which is why I qualified them. - fontanero, Aug 5, 2010

Answer 3

I don´t know if this is correct but I would say.....así es

Answer 4

Es lo que parece.

Es lo que hay.

No hay más.

Las cosas son como son.

J

Answer 5

My husband, who is a native Spanish speaker, says,

S O C K S

Eso si que es.

Which he says, means, "That is what it is."

Brilliant ! - fontanero, Aug 5, 2010

Yes that`s a brilliant way to remember a phrase i might try something like that to remember phrases in future. - kenwilliams, Aug 5, 2010

I have heard of menomics to remember some words like butter for instance mantaquilla, just think of a man with a knife coming to kill you, la mantaquilla. - kenwilliams, Aug 5, 2010

Answer 6

Sea lo que sea.

Edit: This is like "whatever it is, that's ok." kind of dynamic vs the static "es lo que es". - It is what it is and that's what it is.

Answer 7

In addition to 'Es lo que es,' I'm tempted to say 'Así es lo que es.'