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"Sí" is a form of "sí", an adverb which is often translated as "yes". "Así" is a form of "así", an adverb which is often translated as "like this". Learn more about the difference between "sí" and "así" below.
sí(
see
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
a. yes
¿Quieres ir al cine? - Sí, pero primero hay que comer.Do you want to go to the movies? - Yes, but let's eat first.
2. (emphatic)
a. no direct translation
The following examples show ways to translate this word or phrase without using a direct equivalent.
Yo sí quiero acompañarlos a Disney.I do want to go with you to Disney World.
Ella no aprobó, pero yo sí.She didn't pass, but I did.
An interjection is a short utterance that expresses emotion, hesitation, or protest (e.g., Wow!).
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun (e.g., she).
a. himself (third person singular masculine)
Suele jugar ajedrez con sí mismo.He usually plays chess against himself.
b. herself (third person singular feminine)
¡Se envió una carta a sí misma!She sent a letter to herself!
c. itself (third person singular)
El hilo se está enredando en sí.The string is getting tangled up in itself.
e. yourself (second person singular formal)
Solo desea el bien para sí.You only wish good for yourself.
f. yourselves (second person plural formal)
¡Solo tienen que creer en sí mismos!You just have to believe in yourselves!
así(
ah
-
see
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
a. like this
¿Cómo lo hago? ¿Así?How should I do it? Like this?
Cose el vestido así.Sew the dress like this.
b. like that
Me encanta cuando bailas así.I love it when you dance like that.
Solía cocinar la paella así para mis hijos.I used to cook paella like that for my kids.
c. this way
¿Cómo puedes hablar así de tu esposo a sus espaldas?How can you talk this way about your husband behind his back?
d. that way
Si lo haces así, tardarás más tiempo que si lo haces como yo te decía.If you do it that way, it'll take longer than if you do it the way I told you to.
e. no direct translation
The following examples show ways to translate this word or phrase without using a direct equivalent.
¿Y así acaba la película? - Sí, el protagonista muere.And is that how the movie ends? - Yeah, the main character dies.
Eladia y Pedro se conocieron en una fiesta. - Así nos conocimos también Ángel y yo.Eladia and Pedro met at a party. - That's how Angel and I met too.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. like that
Alfredo es demasiado educado, ¿no crees? - Pues a mí me gustan los hombres así.Alfredo's too polite, don't you think? - Well, I like men like that.
b. no direct translation
The following examples show ways to translate this word or phrase without using a direct equivalent.
¿Oíste lo que me dijo María? - Olvídalo, ella es así.Did you hear what Maria said to me? - Forget about it. That's the way she is.
Rosa, a ti te gusta Antonio, ¿no es así?Rosa, you like Antonio, don't you?
A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, clauses, or sentences (e.g., The cat and the dog slept.).
a. even if
Entregaré la traducción mañana, así tenga que pasarme la noche trabajando en ella.I'll submit the translation tomorrow, even if I have to spend all night working on it.
