según yo
/seɡun ʝo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "according to me" is translated into Spanish as según yo.
según yo is used to express a personal opinion or a belief. In many Spanish-speaking contexts, it can also carry a nuance of uncertainty, acting as a way to say "as far as I know" or "if I'm not mistaken".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of según, meaning "according to" and yo, meaning "I".
Which one should you use?
While según yo is a colloquial way to state an opinion, en mi opinión is the standard and more formal way to say "in my opinion". Additionally, desde mi punto de vista can be used to mean "from my point of view".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
según yo is primarily used in informal, colloquial speech. For a more formal tone, you should use en mi opinión (in my opinion). In informal contexts, you might also use para mí, which translates to "for me".
How do you pronounce it?
/seɡun ʝo/
Did you know?
- The word según is a doublet of segundo, meaning 'second'. Both words come from the Latin secundus, which describes something that follows another.
- While English speakers use 'according to me' very rarely because it sounds slightly arrogant, Spanish speakers use según yo frequently as a casual conversational filler.
- In some Spanish-speaking-speaking social circles, saying según yo can be a way to playfully signal that you might be wrong or that you are jokingly questioning your own memory.
Examples in context
- Según yo, esta es la mejor manera de resolver el problema.According to me, this is the best way to solve the problem.
- Para mí, esa película es la mejor de todas.According to me, that movie is the best of all.
- Desde mi punto de vista, deberíamos hacerlo de otra manera.According to me, we should do it in a different way.
- Según yo, mañana va a llover.According to me, it is going to rain tomorrow.
- Eso es demasiado caro, según yo.That is too expensive, according to me.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are discussing the location of a restaurant.
- ElenaEl restaurante está en esta calle, según yo.The restaurant is on this street, according to me.
- JavierNo estoy seguro, Elena. Mira el mapa.I'm not sure, Elena. Look at the map.
- ElenaTienes razón, Javier. Está en la otra calle.You are right, Javier. It is on the other street.
- JavierMenos mal que revisamos el teléfono.It's a good thing we checked the phone.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries según, yo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
