hacerse compañía
/aθeɾse kompaɲia/from spelling rules
The phrase 'keep each other company' in Spanish is translated as hacerse compañía.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb hacer (to make/do), the reflexive pronoun se (themselves) and compañía (company).
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase hacerse compañía, the reflexive pronoun se functions as a reciprocal pronoun, which indicates that the action is performed by the subjects upon one another. To change the subject, you must change the reflexive pronoun: use nos hacemos compañía for 'we keep each other company' and os hacéis compañía for 'you all keep each other company' (in Spain).
How do you pronounce it?
/aθeɾse kompaɲia/
Did you know?
- The word compañía shares an ancestor with the English word 'companion', but the Latin root *cum panis literally means 'with bread'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, hacerse compañía is a common way to describe the act of elderly neighbors checking on one another to avoid loneliness.
- While hacerse compañía is common, Spanish speakers often use the phrase no dejar solo (to not leave alone) to express the same sentiment of keeping someone company.
Examples in context
- Mi colega y yo nos acompañamos mutuamente durante los viajes de negocios.My colleague and I keep each other company during business trips.
- Los ancianos se hacen compañía uno al otro en el asilo de ancianos.The elderly keep each other company at the nursing home.
- Nos acompañamos mientras esperábamos en el aeropuerto.We kept each other company while waiting at the airport.
- Mis amigos se hacen compañía durante sus vacaciones en la playa.My friends keep each other company during their vacation at the beach.
- No te sientas solo, yo te haré compañía.Don't feel lonely, I will keep you company.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries compañía, CC BY-SA 4.0.
