ya lo hice
/ʝa lo iθe/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "I already did" is expressed as ya lo hice.
This phrase is used to state that a requested or expected task has been completed. While ya lo hice is a standard way to say it, you can use Ya he realizado la tarea to formally express that you have completed a specific task or assignment or the informal Listo, ya terminé to convey a sense of completion.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ya (already), lo (it) and hice (I did).
Which one should you use?
Ya lo hice uses the preterite tense to mean "I already did it." If you want to express a habitual action, such as "I already do it," you would use the present tense ya lo hago instead. Additionally, in Spain, it is very common to use the present perfect ya lo he hecho to express that a task has just been completed.
How does it change in a sentence?
The direct object pronoun lo (it) must be placed before the conjugated verb hice.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝa lo iθe/
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'already' to emphasize completion, using ya in certain Spanish-speaking contexts can also imply an impatient 'now' or 'right now', changing the tone from a simple statement to a reaction.
- The verb in hice comes from the Latin 'fēcī', which is the same root that gives English the word 'fact', as a 'fact' is something that has been 'done' or 'made'.
- In some Latin American countries, ya is used as a conversational filler to show you are listening, similar to saying 'uh-huh' or 'I see' in English.
Examples in context
- Ya lo hice.I already did it.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase ya lo hice.Tatoeba #2915830 by marcelostockle, translation #3823472 by CK
- Compañero de trabajo: ¿Enviaste el correo? Tú: Listo, ya terminé.Coworker: Did you send the email? You: Yeah, done already.
- No te preocupes, ya lo hice.Don't worry, I already did it.
Example conversation
Daniel asks María if she sent the email.
- María¿Puedes enviar el correo hoy, María?Can you send the email today, María?
- DanielSí, ya lo hice.Yes, I already did.
- María¡Perfecto! Gracias por avisarme.Perfect! Thanks for letting me know.
- DanielDe nada, Daniel.You're welcome, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hice, lo, ya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
