cosas al azar
/kosas al aθaɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "random stuff" can be translated into Spanish as cosas al azar.
cosas al azar is used to describe a collection of various objects or items that have been chosen or gathered without a specific plan or pattern. It is typically used when describing the selection process or the lack of a specific order.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cosas (things) and the prepositional phrase al azar (at random).
Which one should you use?
While cosas al azar focuses on the lack of a pattern in how things were picked, you might use cosas variadas if you want to emphasize the variety of the items themselves rather than the lack of a specific order.
Did you know?
- The word azar shares a common ancestor with the English word 'hazard', as both originate from the Arabic word for 'dice'.
- If 'random stuff' is happening in a way that implies total chaos rather than just a lack of pattern, speakers use the phrase a lo loco.
- Among youth in Spanish-speaking circles, the English word 'random' has been adopted directly as a slang term to describe an unexpected person or situation.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, ¿cómo está usted?Good morning, how are you?
- ¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?Hello, how are you?
- Muchas gracias por su ayudaThank you very much for your help
- ¡Mil gracias por echarme una mano!Thanks a million for lending me a hand!
- Disculpe, ¿podría ayudarme con esto?Excuse me, could you help me with this?
- No te preocupes, este examen es pan comidoDon't worry, this exam is a piece of cake
- Últimamente, está en las nubes y no se concentraLately, he/she has been daydreaming and not focusing
- Estaba tan enojado que lo mandé a volarI was so mad that I told him to go fly a kite
- ¿Vamos al cine? Vale, vamosLet's go to the movies? Okay, let's go
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are cleaning a shared storage room.
- AlejandroMaría, ¿qué son todas estas cosas al azar?María, what is all this random stuff?
- MaríaSon recuerdos de mis viajes anteriores.They are souvenirs from my previous trips.
- AlejandroParece que solo son cosas al azar.It seems like it's just random stuff.
- MaríaTienes razón, voy a tirar todo esto.You are right, I am going to throw all this away.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries azar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
