me alegro de escuchar eso
/me aleɡɾo de eskut͡ʃaɾ eso/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "I am happy to hear that" can be said as me alegro de escuchar eso.
This phrase is used to express pleasure or relief after learning some good news. While me alegro de escuchar eso is common, you might also use me alegra saberlo, which is a very natural and common alternative. Additionally, in the specific idiomatic context of having received news, the verb oír (to hear) is often used instead of escuchar (to listen), resulting in me alegro de oírlo.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the phrase ¡Qué gusto saber eso! is used to convey happiness upon hearing good news.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to follow the phrase with a full clause containing a subject and a verb instead of a direct object, you must use me alegro de que followed by the subjunctive mood.
How do you pronounce it?
/me aleɡɾo de eskutʃaɾ eso/
Did you know?
- In Mexico, the expression ¡Qué gusto saber eso! swaps the verb for happiness with gusto, which can also mean 'taste'.
- The English word 'auscultate', used by doctors to listen to a heart, shares the same Latin root as the Spanish verb escuchar used here.
- In Spanish, the concept of being happy about news is often expressed as a reflexive action, where you are essentially 'joying yourself'.
Examples in context
- Me alegra escuchar eso. ¡Excelente trabajo!I am happy to hear that. Excellent work!
- ¡Qué gusto saber eso! ¡Felicidades!What a pleasure to know that! Congratulations!
- Me alegro de escuchar eso, es una excelente noticia.I am happy to hear that, it is excellent news.
Example conversation
Javier and María are talking about a job promotion.
- JavierMaría, ¡conseguí el nuevo puesto!María, I got the new position!
- María¡En serio! Me alegro de escuchar eso.Really! I am happy to hear that.
- JavierMuchas gracias por tu apoyo.Thank you very much for your support.
- MaríaTe lo mereces, Javier.You deserve it, Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, escuchar, eso, me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
