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Question

"me topé con" and "me tropecé con",

I have seen both used, and I was wondering which of the two is more common.

Curioso, me tropecé con esta frase: SI EN VERDAD LO QUIERES, ENCONTRARAS LA FORMA,...

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En twitter me topé con esta frase, es tan profunda y tan llena de sabiduría que no puedo dejarla solo a los que están en twitter y siguen a ...

Thank you =)

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He visto que se usan ambos, y me preguntaba cuál de las dos es más común.

Gracias =)

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Please correct my Spanish...

Great Question Nikki :) I have lerant something new here fhrough Fallaron's answer The verbs you gave me were listed in the Spanish section but not the English section of my dictionary and not even given a mention in my phrasal verb book whcih is strange - FELIZ77, Feb 24, 2012

Good question! - --Mariana--, Feb 24, 2012

Thanks!! I asked my hubby about this when he got home too... He said he would use "topar" here. - NikkiLR, Feb 24, 2012

Feliz... They are both in the dictionary at wordreference.com =) - NikkiLR, Feb 24, 2012

Answer 1

It is very common to used either one! I think tropezar is more "classy" and it would be the preference of most educated people, but "topé" (topar) is very common.

• The verb tropezar is better described as = To stumble, to trip, to fall upon.
• The verb topar is better described as = to run into, to come across, to walk in, etc.
• I just found this: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/topar

Thank you! =D - NikkiLR, Feb 23, 2012

My pleasure! ;) - farallon7, Feb 23, 2012

Answer 2

Nikki the verb to stumble on(upo) /across used literally would be tropezar con algo

to stumble over/against something

He stumbled over a stone and he fell = Se tropecó con una piedra y se cayó.

but in the way you are trying to use it to come across something by accident in a figurative or metaphorical sense you would use:

dar con o encontrar

In my English ---> Spanish book of phrasal verbs by Vox (which I bought recently in Spain)

it gives Stumble across or stumble on vt insep cruzarse con alguien, encontrarse con alguien/algo, dar con algo por casualidad

It gives two examples one literal and the second metaphorical example which i included and which I sense is what you are looking for:

He was working on engine efficiency when he stumbled on the revolutionary fuel.

= Investigaba la eficacia del motor cuando dio con el nuevo combustible revolutionario

So I think your phrase would be

Di con esta frase = I stumbled on/came across this sentence

o

Me encontré con esta frase = I stumbled on/came across this sentence

I hope this helps

Ahh interesting... but the examples I gave I did not write, I found them online. That is why I ask. - NikkiLR, Feb 23, 2012

Here... I put the full phrases I found... gives a better example. - NikkiLR, Feb 23, 2012

That is okay, Nikki :) So much depends on context when translating between languages and using language in a metaphorical sense will, in my experience, invariably require the use of a different verb construction - FELIZ77, Feb 23, 2012

Great answer, by the way... :D - NikkiLR, Feb 23, 2012

Thank you very much :) - FELIZ77, Feb 23, 2012

Answer 3

hi dear friend nikki ,be careful .you generally use ME TROPECÉ when you´re walking ,suddenly your feet hit with an obstacle and probably you fall.You say topar when one thing collides with another . Estaba corriendo cuando de pronto me topecé y casi me caigo. Estaba corriendo cuando de pronto me tropecé y me caí.

Hola Luissito. :-) Puedo ayudarte con tu inglés y espero que me puedas ayudar mejorar mi español :-) - FELIZ77, Feb 24, 2012

Si estás interesado puedes añadir mi apodo de Skype: Feliz772. Nací en Perú pero mis padres son Ingleses y he vivido la mayoría de mi vida en Inglaterra Saludos, Pablo - FELIZ77, Feb 24, 2012

I wonder if you could help me to improve my English .I would be able to help you with Spanish. Greetings - luisssito, Feb 24, 2012

Yes, I could help you. Please add my name on Skype/send me a request through Skype :) - FELIZ77, Feb 25, 2012

Answer 4

Agree with all that have commented so far; this post just calls to mind one of my favorite words: Serendipia : descubrimiento fortuito de algo muy bello =o= descubrir algo por casualidad...

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For more: hallazgo afortunado e inesperado

Answer 5

Ive seen both used