What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of aprendí (I learned), de (from) and el mejor (the best).
Which one should you use?
While aprendí del mejor refers to one person, you can use aprendí de los mejores if you want to say you learned from a group of top experts. If the person who taught you is female, you must change the masculine del mejor to the feminine de la mejor.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the slang expression Aprendí de los más chingones is used to say 'I learned from the best.' In Argentina, Aprendí de los grosos is an informal way to say the same thing. In Spain, the expression Aprendí de los más curtidos is used to convey learning from people with invaluable knowledge.
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the subject from 'I' to 'we', change the verb from aprendí to aprendimos.
How do you pronounce it?
/apɾendi del mexoɾ/
Did you know?
- The phrase aprendí de los más curtidos uses a word that literally means 'tanned' or 'cured' like leather. It implies that the teacher has been 'weathered' by experience and hardship.
- In Argentina, the word grosos in aprendí de los grosos typically describes something thick or bulky. Using it here turns a physical description of size into a compliment about skill.
- The word mejor stems from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'strong' or 'big'. This suggests that the ancient concept of being 'the best' was tied to physical power.
Examples in context
- Amigo, quiero agradecerte por tus consejos. Aprendí de los mejores, ¡y tú eres uno de ellos!Friend, I want to thank you for your advice. I learned from the best, and you are one of them!
- No es casualidad, aprendí del mejor.It is no coincidence, I learned from the best.
- Para cocinar así, aprendí del mejor.To cook like this, I learned from the best.
- Si juego así es porque aprendí del mejor.If I play like this, it's because I learned from the best.
Example conversation
Alejandro compliments María on her painting skills.
- María¡Qué cuadro tan increíble, María!What an incredible painting, María!
- AlejandroGracias, Alejandro. Aprendí del mejor.Thanks, Alejandro. I learned from the best.
- María¿Tuviste un profesor muy famoso?Did you have a very famous teacher?
- AlejandroNo, pero mi abuelo era un maestro.No, but my grandfather was a master.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries del, mejor, CC BY-SA 4.0.
