cueste lo que cueste
/kweste lo ke kweste/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'no matter what it takes' is translated into Spanish as cueste lo que cueste.
This phrase can be placed at the beginning or the end of a sentence without changing its meaning.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal repetition of the verb 'costar' in the subjunctive mood, meaning 'whatever it may cost'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the present subjunctive mood because it expresses an uncertain or hypothetical condition.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, if you want to emphasize even greater determination, you might say cueste lo que fuere, using the future subjunctive, a form rarely seen in modern speech except in legal texts.
- While cueste lo que cueste refers to a metaphorical cost, the verb costar is also used to describe something that is emotionally difficult or annoying. For example, saying a person cuesta can mean they are stubborn or hard to deal with.
- The word que in this phrase shares a common ancestor with the English word 'who' through the Proto-Indo-European root *kʷ-.
Examples in context
- Yo ganaré cueste lo que cueste.I'll win no matter what it takes.Tatoeba #1174631 by marcelostockle, translation #36618 by mailohilohi
- Le haremos hablar, cueste lo que cueste.We'll get them to talk no matter what it takes.Tatoeba #538664 by Shishir, translation #531245 by darinmex
- No abandonaremos el proyecto, sea como sea.We will not give up on the project, no matter what it takes.
- Debemos encontrar una solución, a toda costa.We must find a solution, no matter what it takes.
- Me aseguraré de resolver el problema de cualquier manera.I will make sure to solve the problem no matter what it takes.
- Iré a la fiesta, sí o sí.I will go to the party, no matter what it takes.
- Debemos terminar este proyecto, cueste lo que cueste.We must finish this project, no matter what it takes.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are discussing a difficult goal.
- MateoNecesitamos ganar este partido hoy.We need to win this game today.
- MaríaLo haremos, cueste lo que cueste.We will do it, no matter what it takes.
- MateoEspero que todos estén listos.I hope everyone is ready.
- MaríaEstamos listos para darlo todo.We are ready to give it our all.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lo, que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
