Le tocó que fallaran. Help with the use of tocar.

Question

Y el problema de que los riñones hayan fallado al final ha sido le tocó a esa persona que fallaran.

Can somebody verify or correct my translation?

And the problem that the kidneys have failed eventually has been it was his lot (or meant to be) that they failed.

Something like that.

Mil gracias!

Answer 1

tocar

...it was their time to fail.

1. (llegar el momento)

   • hoy toca limpiar -> it's cleaning day today
   • ahora toca divertirse -> now it's time to have some fun Blockquote

but that it can be tricky to translate. - BellaMargarita, Jan 19, 2011

Answer 2

tocar in this case would mean to be ones turn. i.e. me toca (it's my turn).

While an English translation "it was their turn" sounds a little harsh, I would interpret it to be more like the last answer, that is was fated, it was their turn by some unknown whim of fate.

Answer 3

And the problem that the kidneys have failed eventually has been it was his lot (or meant to be) that they failed. Hi Ant, I am wondering if the 'al final' is N O T part of the first phrase (as I infer from your translation) but rather part of the second - so... .... And the problem that the kidneys have failed, in the end, has been (that) it was his lot (or meant to be) that they failed

Answer 4

HA!!!,,,yes it is quite a mouthful!,,,This is not my creation, it is a translation.

Answer 5

You have created quite a mouthful in both languages. How about simply: "El hecho de que se fallaron los riñones en fin fue su destino."