¿cómo lo supiste?
The Spanish phrase for "how did you know?" is ¿cómo lo supiste?
This phrase is a question used to ask someone how they obtained a specific piece of information.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cómo (how), lo (it) and supiste (you knew).
Which one should you use?
While ¿cómo lo supiste? uses the preterite to ask how someone found out in the past, the phrase ¿cómo lo sabes? uses the present tense to ask how they currently possess that knowledge.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form supo is used in the phrase ¿cómo lo supo? when asking how a third person (he/she) or a person addressed with the formal usted found out.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking ¿cómo lo supiste? can be a playful way to suggest someone is a psychic or a mind reader if they guess a secret correctly.
- The form supiste is the result of metathesis, where the sounds in the original Latin word sapuistī shifted positions over time to become the Old Spanish sopiste.
- The pronoun lo in this phrase can function as a 'neuter' pronoun, which acts like a placeholder for an entire idea or situation rather than just a specific masculine object.
Examples in context
- ¡Qué sorpresa! ¿Cómo lo supiste?What a surprise! How did you know?
- Había un regalo para ti, ¿cómo lo supiste?There was a gift for you, how did you know?
Example conversation
Daniel is surprised that Sofía found out about his new job.
- Daniel¡Empecé mi nuevo trabajo hoy!I started my new job today!
- Sofía¡Felicidades! Me lo contó tu hermano.Congratulations! Your brother told me.
- Daniel¿Cómo lo supiste?How did you know?
- SofíaÉl me envió un mensaje ayer.He sent me a message yesterday.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cómo, lo, supiste, CC BY-SA 4.0.
