Ambiguous 'sí'

Question

"Merche no parece demasiado interesada en la historia. Pero a ver si yo puedo hacer que tú sí"

"Pero a ver si yo puedo hacer que tú sí" is translated into "But let's see if I can tempt you"

Now the word 'sí' at the end, does it mean 'yourself' or 'consent'?

Is the translation right?

Answer 1

It's not ambiguous. Something like this.... Merche doesn't seem too interested in history. But let's see if I can make you interested (get you interested, tempt you to be interested).

Another example, probably crude but.....
You don't want to read, but I do. No quieres leer pero yo sí.

Answer 2

Ambiguous for sure. I'm a native English speaker, for starters, but my guess is that "sí" with an í means yes, a consent. Still, I think there should be ¿? around the sí.

Merche no parece demasiado interesada en la historia. Pero a ver si yo puedo hacer que tú, ¿sí?

Merche doesn't seem too interested in history. But let's see if I can tempt you, yes?

Although it doesn't look right in English, I've heard the expression used often in other languages. Hope that helps.

Answer 3

The translation is right. When you say "Pero a ver si yo puedo hacer que tú sí", you are saying that you are going to try that the person get interested in History, because Merche does't get interested in that.

"Si" also means Yes, or yourself, but this one is when you're using "Si" and is very common used before the word "mismo".

Welcome to the forum! - rac1, Mar 4, 2013

Thanks! :D - juniocarl, Mar 4, 2013