sé que lo haces
/se ke lo aθes/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I know you do" is expressed in Spanish as sé que lo haces.
This phrase is used to acknowledge that the speaker is aware the other person performs a certain action.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of sé (I know), que (that), lo (it/the action) and haces (you do).
Which one should you use?
You can also use sé que eso lo haces to specifically mean "I know you do that" in an informal context.
Is it said differently in some regions?
When addressing a group of people, the form changes based on the region. In Spain, you would use sé que lo hacéis, whereas in Latin America, you would use sé que lo hacen.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the verb haces is used in the indicative mood because it expresses a fact that the speaker is certain of.
How do you pronounce it?
/se ke lo aθes/
Did you know?
- If the action you are acknowledging is a mental process or an emotion, Spanish speakers will not use the verb hacer at all, but will switch to tener or another specific verb.
- The word sé in this phrase is a homograph of the word sé used as a command meaning 'be'. Despite looking identical, they come from entirely different linguistic origins.
- The word que in this phrase is a linguistic 'usurper' that evolved from the Latin word for 'what', yet it now performs the grammatical role of the Latin word 'quod', meaning 'that'.
Examples in context
- ¡Claro! Sé que lo haces. Me encantaría ir contigo.Of course! I know you do that. I would love to go with you.
- Sé que lo haces por mi bien.I know you do it for my own good.
- Sé que lo haces con mucho cuidado.I know you do it with great care.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are discussing her habits at work.
- Daniel¿Crees que no me doy cuenta?Do you think I don't notice?
- MaríaSolo intento trabajar rápido.I'm just trying to work fast.
- DanielSé que lo haces para terminar pronto.I know you do it to finish early.
- MaríaTienes razón, Daniel.You are right, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lo, que, sé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
