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In episode 1 of extr@ en español, Lola is upset that Pablo is using her exercise bike. She yells at him:

Si tocas mi bici... ¡Si tocas mi bici, te echo! ¡Te echo! ¿Me entiendes?

What is the meaning of "te echo" within the above context? The common translation is "I miss you", but this translation makes no sense.

jacobo
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Rock Anthony Johnson
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    Note that Te echo is not translated as I miss you, the correct translation for I miss you is "Te echo de menos" – mornaner Nov 23 '15 at 12:27
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    For more on "Te echo de menos", see here... but that's not what Lola was saying. – Flimzy Nov 24 '15 at 22:06
  • Wow i am learning spanish and my name is echo so its so weird seeing it be used a bunch in so many different and confusing ways 🤣😅 – Echo Simmons Nov 24 '19 at 06:08

2 Answers2

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"Echar" has a lot of meanings. This is the following:

echar

  1. tr. Hacer salir a alguien de algún lugar, apartarle con violencia, por desprecio, castigo, etc.

That is: 'I kick you out [of somewhere]'.

So the sentence '¡Si tocas mi bici, te echo! ¡Te echo!' means 'If you touch my bike, I will kick you out of here!'.

fedorqui
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    The meaning of "te echo" could be "I'll kick you out" but if Lola is Pablo's girl friend then it could also mean "I'll break out with you" – DGaleano Nov 23 '15 at 18:12
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    I am so sorry @angus but In Colombia it does. However you have to be careful because it is very different to say "Lola echó a su novio" and saying "Lola se echó a su novio". The first is "to break up with him" the second is "to engage in sexual activities" . – DGaleano Nov 23 '15 at 20:35
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    @DGaleano interesante lo que comentas. Mirando la definición de "echar" nos encontramos un total de ¡48 acepciones! Luego mil significados pueden ser posibles según la zona. Por curiosidad, miré en Bogotalogo y no encontré algo idiomático propio de Colombia que describa el "cortar una relación". – fedorqui Nov 23 '15 at 21:29
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    Nunca miré siquiera el significado porque para mi es natural. Cuando era adolescente, me echaron, me hice echar y eché . Por aquí funciona exactamente como la acepción 5. "Me echaron del trabajo" o "Mi novia me echó". Suficiente ilustración. :-) – DGaleano Nov 23 '15 at 23:34
  • kick you out of where? Te echo de la casa, del jardín. – Lambie Nov 24 '19 at 18:14
  • @Lambie sorry I don't understand what you mean with your comment. Could you clarify? – fedorqui Nov 24 '19 at 21:07
  • OK, te echo is I will kick you out, here. If you touch my bike, I'll kick you out. Simple present cannot be used here in English. It's just an odd thing to say without saying from where. We have no away of knowing de donde se echa la persona. Si tocas mi bici, te echo [de aqui]. – Lambie Nov 24 '19 at 22:23
  • @Lambie ah right, now I understand, thanks! I didn't know. I have edited my answer to improve this part. Feel free to [edit] further if it is still needed. – fedorqui Nov 25 '19 at 09:21
  • I tried to put in "I'll" but can't because on this site there is that stupid rule about more than 10 characters. Do you not see why simple present is wrong here? I'd be glad to explain it.... – Lambie Nov 25 '19 at 14:48
  • @Lambie the sentence OP provided is a first conditional, so the will is necessary. However, I was surprised to learn that 'I kick you out' alone would be wrong. Would it be in any case? Regarding the 10 (in fact 6) characters rule, you can also add some hidden text like <!--- bla bla bla --> somewhere to reach the minimum. – fedorqui Nov 25 '19 at 14:52
  • fedorqui: The simple present in English is only used for habitual activities: "Every week, Little Johnny, I have to kick you out of my class for misbehaving". In Spanish, "Callete o te echo [de aqui] ahora mismo" has to be: "Shut up or I'll kick you out" or "Shut up or I'm kicking you out." //Thanks for the tip on hidden text! :) – Lambie Nov 25 '19 at 15:24
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"Echar" also means "to lash out at someone, to give somebody a preach". "un rapapolvo / una bronca" is then left out.

Lop
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  • Give somebody a preach is not English. We say: I'll let you have it. To let someone have it is an idiom= to yell at you. – Lambie Nov 24 '19 at 18:15