en pocas palabras
/en pokas palabɾas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "long story short" is expressed in Spanish as en pocas palabras.
The phrase en pocas palabras is used as a conversational transition to skip unnecessary details and quickly get to the main point or conclusion of a complex situation.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, en pocas palabras means "in few words".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain and parts of Latin America, the expression En fin is also used to convey the idea of "long story short".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase acts adverbially. It typically appears at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma to set the context for the summary that follows.
Did you know?
- If you use the phrase en pocas palabras to summarize a tragedy or a negative event, it can sound unintentionally dismissive or insensitive in certain Spanish-speaking cultures.
- The word palabras comes from the Latin 'parabola', which originally referred to a comparison or a parable rather than just any word.
- The word palabras in en pocas palabras shares a linguistic ancestor with the English word 'parley', which refers to a discussion or conference between opposing sides.
Examples in context
- En pocas palabras, él se casó con su primer amor.To make a long story short, he married his first love.This sentence demonstrates the use of en pocas palabras to introduce a summarized conclusion.Tatoeba #513060 by darinmex, translation #63798 by CM
- Para resumir, decidimos viajar a la playa y disfrutar del sol y el mar.Long story short, we decided to travel to the beach and enjoy the sun and sea.
- En pocas palabras, conocí a Juan en una fiesta y hemos sido amigos desde entonces.To make a long story short, I met Juan at a party, and we have been friends ever since.
- A grandes rasgos, la película trata de amor, amistad y sueños.In a nutshell, the movie is about love, friendship, and dreams.
- En pocas palabras, el viaje fue un desastre.Long story short, the trip was a disaster.
- Para no aburrirte, en pocas palabras, nos mudamos de ciudad.To not bore you, long story short, we moved cities.
Example conversation
Two friends are catching up over coffee.
- Lucía¿Cómo te fue en la entrevista de trabajo?How did your job interview go?
- MateoFue larga, pero en pocas palabras, me dieron el puesto.It was long, but long story short, they gave me the job.
- Lucía¡Qué buena noticia, Mateo!That is great news, Mateo!
- MateoGracias, Lucía, estoy muy feliz.Thanks, Lucía, I am very happy.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
