10

There are many times I run into conversations like this:

Waitress: Would you like some water?

Me: No thanks.

She walks away for a second, then comes back

Me: Actually, could I get a cup of water please?

or

Friend: Do you need a hand with all that heavy luggage?

Me: No. thinking for a few seconds... Well, actually, would you mind carrying this bag? It is pretty heavy.

It seems like "la verdad es que" is a mouthful. Is there a short phrase common for situations like these?

Community
  • 1
jrdioko
  • 17,681
  • 86
  • 194
  • 301

5 Answers5

11

It is true what Xabier has said about Pensándolo mejor. But there is another alternative that is widely used as well.

Revision

As per comments and thanks to CesarGon, be aware that this form is not grammatically correct and that pensándolo mejor should be used instead. De hecho is used only colloquially.

For instance:

De hecho, ¿podría tomar un vaso de agua, por favor?

or

No, ... ... [...] de hecho ¿te importaría ayudarme a llevar esta maleta? Es muy pesada.

Jose Luis
  • 6,687
  • 6
  • 37
  • 60
  • De hecho is also a translation of in fact and indeed – David Lay Nov 24 '11 at 13:06
  • @DavidLay Exactly, depending on context de hecho can act effectively as both or as the one needed. Powerful words! :-) – Jose Luis Nov 24 '11 at 13:42
  • +1 this is what native spanish speaker would say. – isJustMe Nov 24 '11 at 14:30
  • I learned de hecho just four years ago and can't comprehend how I was able to make myself understood for so long without it! – hippietrail Nov 27 '11 at 08:31
  • -1 "De hecho" is often used in this context, but it is wrong. "De hecho" means "in fact" or "indeed", but not "actually" as in the OP. – CesarGon Jan 26 '12 at 20:14
  • @CesarGon I disagree with you. Do you have any sources to what you say? De hecho as actually (University of Granada) (Scroll down to the university dictionary definition) – Jose Luis Jan 27 '12 at 09:30
  • @Joze: Actually, I do :-) DRAE defines "de hecho" (under "hecho") as "efectivamente" or "con eficacia y buena voluntad", i.e. "truly" or "with efficacy and good will". That's what it means. I am aware that people also use it as a rough equivalent to "pensándolo bien" (i.e. "actually" in English as per the OP), but that is not recognised by DRAE. With regard to the dictionary that you linked to, I find it a bit imprecise: its translations for "de hecho" include terms as disparate as "actually", "as it happened" and "in effect". That might reflect actual language usage, but DRAE disagrees. – CesarGon Jan 27 '12 at 20:17
  • @CesarGon: I see interesting. but doesn't the preposition de change the meaning of hecho on this context? Do you know if DRAE says something in this regard? – Jose Luis Jan 28 '12 at 10:45
  • @Joze: Maybe I wasn't clear enough. The definitions I am quoting from DRAE are for "de hecho", including "de". – CesarGon Jan 28 '12 at 17:24
  • @CesarGon: Thanks, I revised the answer accordingly. :-) – Jose Luis Jan 30 '12 at 07:30
8

"Pensándolo mejor" is the expression I would use on situations like these.

Examples:

  • "Pensándolo mejor, ¿podría tomar un vaso de agua, por favor?"
  • "No... Bueno, pensándolo mejor, ¿te importaría llevarme esta maleta?"

Admitted, it is a mouthful as well.

Alenanno
  • 3,229
  • 2
  • 27
  • 30
Xabier Domínguez
  • 259
  • 1
  • 3
3

Initially we were taught some rules, like anything ending in '-lly' became '-mente' - so in this case, 'actualmente'. However it turns out this is a false friend - it actually (excuse pun) means 'presently/currently'.

The preferred translation is 'en realidad' as in 'in reality'.

Mark Mayo
  • 601
  • 4
  • 9
  • 1
    True, but I think that, given the situations of the original question, pensándolo mejor is the best choice. But in general, en realidad should work too. – Ignacio Contreras Pinilla Nov 24 '11 at 11:06
  • 1
    Actually English -ly and Spanish -mente are not cognates. Cognates means they have a common ancestor but the Spanish suffix comes from Latin and the English from Germanic - no relation. Spanish -idad and English -ity are an example of actual cognates. -ly and -mente on the other hand are false friends rather than false cognates. – hippietrail Nov 27 '11 at 08:38
  • The description from the false cognates page: "False cognates are pairs of words in the same or different languages that are similar in form and meaning but have different roots. That is, they appear to be, or are sometimes considered, cognates, when in fact they are not." Oddly this seems to be almost the same wording as false friends! – Mark Mayo Nov 27 '11 at 09:32
  • 1
    Another less as to why Wikipedia alone is not such a great reference - but for now it's all I have... unless somebody would like to ask a question on English Language & Usage (-; – hippietrail Dec 02 '11 at 11:19
0

En Colombia para las situaciones planteadas se usa:

sabe que, mas bien...

Veamos unas construcciones:

sabe qué?, mas bien deme un vaso de agua.

sabe qué?, mas bien podría llevarme el morral es que está muy pesado

alvalongo
  • 1,342
  • 9
  • 17
0

At least in Mexico, a concise way of correcting oneself in these situations is

Siempre sí

For example:

¿Le traigo un vaso de agua?

Me: No, gracias.

after a moment's thought

Siempre sí, por favor.

 

¿Te doy una mano [con el equipaje]?

No, gracias, estoy bien.... Perdón, sí, siempre sí, gracias.

This means "Yes, after all," or "Yes, actually."

Community
  • 1
aparente001
  • 10,747
  • 7
  • 32
  • 55