compensármelo
/kompensaɾmelo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "make it up to me" is translated into Spanish as compensármelo.
This phrase is used when someone wants to do something good for another person to compensate for a mistake or a disappointment.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is formed by combining the infinitive verb compensar, which means "to compensate" or "to make up for", with two suffixes: -me, representing the indirect object "to me" and -lo, representing the direct object "it".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the form compensármelo, the pronouns are attached directly to the end of the infinitive, resulting in a single word. This specific form is used when the phrase follows another verb or a preposition.
How do you pronounce it?
/kompensaɾmelo/
Did you know?
- In some Latin American countries, if you want to make it up to someone in a playful or romantic way, you might use invitarte a algo, which literally means 'to invite you to something' like a drink or dinner.
- The word compensar shares a root with the English 'compensate', but in Spanish it is also used in music and mechanics to describe 'balancing' a scale or a sound.
- While compensar is grammatically correct, a native speaker in many Latin American countries might more naturally say deberme una to mean 'you owe me one' in a playful way.
Examples in context
- ¿Cómo piensas compensármelo después de lo de ayer?How do you plan to make it up to me after yesterday?
Example conversation
Javier forgot Sofía's birthday dinner.
- JavierLo siento mucho, Sofía, lo olvidé.I am so sorry, Sofia, I forgot.
- SofíaEstá bien, pero tienes que compensármelo.It's okay, but you have to make it up to me.
- JavierTe llevaré a cenar mañana.I will take you to dinner tomorrow.
- SofíaTrato hecho, Javier.Deal, Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
