Sí o sí
I just got back from argentina and I heard sí o sí used a lot but I am not positive on the meaning. Does it mean something like at all costs or something like that? gracias
15 Answers
100% correct, James.
James Santiago said:
This is especially common in Argentina, and I don't think there is a corresponding English saying, although of course we can express the idea. That idea is that no option is being given. You are asking someone a favor, but at the same time telling them they are going to do it. Two of the many possibilities in English are "Like it or not" and "No matter what."
>
I was looking for the meaning of "sí o sí" and came across this old thread. I'll post the sentence I found this phrase in just in case someone else looks up "sí o sí" on this site and comes across this thread as I did:
Carolina, ¿ te acuerdas de mi colega griego, Kostas? Me escribió el otro día contándome que planeaba visitar Argentina con su familia y me me preguntó qué lugares debía visitar sí o sí.
Apparently the translation would be something like "no matter what" or "no ifs ands or buts."
I know that sí means yes in spanish but i think this phrasee means something different than yes or yes, is there anyone here from argentina or south america that uses this'
I have many times heard someone say something like this:
Well . . . we're out of tea . . . so do you want coffee or coffee'
Right, but that is an improvised joke, rather than a set expression as in the Spanish. And while your example sounds perfectly fine, "Are you going, yes or yes'" does not sound good to my ear at all. I mean, I would probably understand it, but it is very awkward. The much more natural wording would be "You're coming with me, like it or not."
I have many times heard someone say something like this:
Well . . . we're out of tea . . . so do you want coffee or coffee?
James Santiago said:
This is especially common in Argentina, and I don't think there is a corresponding English saying, although of course we can express the idea. That idea is that no option is being given. You are asking someone a favor, but at the same time telling them they are going to do it. Two of the many possibilities in English are "Like it or not" and "No matter what."
>
This is especially common in Argentina, and I don't think there is a corresponding English saying, although of course we can express the idea. That idea is that no option is being given. You are asking someone a favor, but at the same time telling them they are going to do it. Two of the many possibilities in English are "Like it or not" and "No matter what."
yes, gracias
When I was in Argentina, when someone said sí o sí, it was that something had to be done. It's like how we would say in the US, there are no ifs ands or buts about it. Does that make sense'
It is written correctly (both with accents):
¿Sí o sí?
LadyDi has already explained what it means: they expect you to say "yes" no matter what. It is said half-joking, and it is used in all countries.
By the way, if that Spanish "professor" didn't know how to spell that, he has not finished primary school, because when I was a child, everyone was expected to know how to write that perfectly before 12 y.o. What kind of professor cannot write correctly one of the 100 most used words in a language''''
bueno, hablé con mi amigo y me dijo que significa no matter what.
no, i remember my friend talking about the spelling of it becuase he used it on a test and he did not know how to spell it so he asked his professors. The one from spain had no idea what it was and the one from chile said it was sí o sí, spelled like that.
christine chege said:
well i think you were taking about si and sí. well the one in with the accent is "yes" and with out accent means "if" but they sound the same.
>
well i think you were taking about si and sí. well the one in with the accent is "yes" and with out accent means "if" but they sound the same.
I strongly believe it means yes in spanish.Si = yes
I think that "sí" means "yes" unless you give us more context or tell us what the situation was.
Marco
I'm guessing but maybe it means something like "yes or no" except that you only get to say "yes or yes". In other words, whoever is telling you this really really wants you to say "yes".
