la extraño
/la eɡstɾaɲo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I miss her" is translated into Spanish as la extraño.
This phrase is used to express sadness because a female person is not present.
Which one should you use?
Depending on the regional dialect, you may encounter le extraño to mean "I miss her" (using the indirect object pronoun), a phenomenon known as leísmo. However, la extraño uses the direct object pronoun.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the phrase la echo de menos is a common way to say "I miss her".
How does it change in a sentence?
The object pronoun la (her) precedes the conjugated verb extraño (I miss).
How do you pronounce it?
/la eɡstɾaɲo/
Did you know?
- In Spain, the phrase la echo de menos literally translates to 'I throw her from less'. It is a common idiomatic way to express longing that differs completely from the verb extrañar.
- The Spanish language uses the same verb extrañar to mean 'to miss' and 'to surprise'. For example, me extraña can mean 'it surprises me' rather than 'I miss it'.
- The word extraño is a cognate of the English word 'strange'. In Spanish, to miss someone is conceptually linked to the feeling of them being a stranger or being absent from your usual environment.
Examples in context
- Dile que la extraño.Tell her I miss her.This sentence is useful for learning how to use la extraño in a command.Tatoeba #4926427 by DarkHollow, translation #4926420 by DarkHollow
- Hace tiempo que no la veo, ¡la extraño mucho!I haven't seen her in a long time, I miss her a lot!
- Cuando estuvo enferma, la extrañé más que nunca.When she was sick, I missed her more than ever.
- Siento no haber acudido a la reunión, la extraño mucho como compañera de trabajo.I'm sorry I couldn't attend the meeting, I miss her a lot as a coworker.
- Cuando se mudó de ciudad, la extrañé muchísimo como mi mentora.When she moved to another city, I missed her a lot as my mentor.
- La extraño mucho.I miss her a lot.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are talking about Mateo's sister.
- MateoLa extraño cada día.I miss her every day.
- MaríaLo siento mucho, Mateo.I am very sorry, Mateo.
- MateoEs difícil, la extraño.It is hard, I miss her.
- MaríaElla también te quiere.She loves you too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries extraño, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
