"Ya sabes para estamos"

Question

I received this sentence from someone in Mexico, after thanking them. What does it mean?

Literally: "Already you know for we are" - that makes no sense to me!

Also, is this a Mexican expression, or do all Spanish speakers use this phrase?

Answer 1

La frase bien escrita: "Ya sabes, para eso estamos", o, muchas veces solo "Para eso estamos".

Suele ser una respuesta cuando alguien te da las gracias. Y en vez de decir "de nada", puedes decir "para eso estamos" (los amigos, por ejemplo). O, tal vez, si vas a un sitio de información turística, te dan una información, le das las gracias, y ellos te contestan "de nada, para eso estamos".

Se usa en España, sí.

Gracias Tosh! - Regan, Aug 17, 2013

Para eso estamos. ;) - Tosh, Aug 17, 2013

Answer 2

Hello Regan,

Here in Spain we use:

Para eso estamos. It's a 'set phrase' you use when somebody thanks you for something. It means: 'That is what we are for (friends, colleagues..) = do not mention it.'

It is not the same but, if I am not mistaken, I think I've heard this in English sometime: That is what friends are for as a response to someone who thanks you. Well, the idea is similar.

Saludos.

Answer 3

In english we would say something like, "that's what we're/I'm here for."

Answer 4

Sabes,

At first I didn't recognize this expression. I use it all the time, but I heard it as por eso estamos.

I suspect the correct version is para eso estamos. Or are both acceptable?

"Por eso estamos" es gramaticalmente perfecto. Pero, en España por lo menos, no se usa para lo mismo. Para el caso concreto que pregunta Regan "para" es la mejor opción. - 003492fc, Aug 18, 2013

Answer 5

por eso estamos.

For me, this sounds like an incomplete sentence because in Mexico a very common expression is Por eso estamos como estamos which means That´s the reason we are how we are / in the position we´re in.

Para eso estamos

I agree with atxeko that this is for friends but should not be confused with Estamos para servirle which is for business situations.

Answer 6

That's what friends are for. That's what I'm here for. Anytime. Depending on relation, situation? Depende de la relación entre las personas y la situación?

Great question I had never heard the expression before. Qué buena pregunta. Es una nueva frase hecha para mi Gracias