me las arreglo
/me las areɡlo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I can get by" is translated into Spanish as me las arreglo.
A phrase used to say that one can manage or survive despite having few resources or difficulties.
Which one should you use?
While me las arreglo is a way to say one manages, Me defiendo is an informal way to express this by literally saying "I can defend myself," and Me apaño is another informal way to say "I manage" or "I get by." For a more formal tone, you may use Puedo desenvolverme, which translates to "I can handle myself" or "I can manage."
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase me las arreglo is in the present indicative tense, which implies a general ability or a current state of managing. To express that you will be able to manage in the future, you should use the future tense: me las arreglaré.
How do you pronounce it?
/me las areɡlo/
Did you know?
- While me defiendo literally means 'I defend myself', it is a very common way to say 'I can get by' when referring to language skills, such as saying 'I can get by in Spanish'.
- In the phrase me las arreglo, the word las is a pronoun that does not refer to a specific noun, but acts as an impersonal placeholder similar to the 'it' in 'I'll handle it'.
- Using the informal me apaño to mean 'I get by' is particularly common in Spain, whereas it might sound unusual or be understood differently in Latin American countries.
Examples in context
- Puedo manejarme en situaciones cotidianasI can get by in everyday situations
- Puedo desenvolverme en conversaciones básicasI can get by in basic conversations
- Me defiendo bastante bien en españolI can get by quite well in Spanish
- Me las arreglo para entender y comunicarme en españolI manage to understand and communicate in Spanish
- Me apaño en situaciones básicas hablando españolI get by in basic situations speaking Spanish
- No tengo mucho dinero, pero me las arreglo.I don't have much money, but I can get by.
- No necesito ayuda, me las arreglo sola.I don't need help, I can get by on my own.
- Con poco dinero me las arreglo.I can get by with little money.
- Si no hay herramientas, me las arreglo.If there are no tools, I'll manage.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are discussing a difficult budget for a trip.
- Alejandro¿Necesitas que te preste más dinero?Do you need me to lend you more money?
- SofíaNo, gracias, me las arreglo con lo que tengo.No, thank you, I can get by with what I have.
- AlejandroEres muy independiente, Sofía.You are very independent, Sofía.
- SofíaEs que ya sé cómo sobrevivir.It's just that I already know how to survive.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
