mirando a la nada
/miɾando a la nada/from spelling rules
The English phrase "staring into space" can be expressed in Spanish as mirando a la nada.
Looking in a direction without focusing on anything in particular, often because one is deep in thought.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the gerund mirando (looking), the preposition a (at/to) and la nada (the nothingness).
Which one should you use?
The phrase quedarse con la mirada perdida is a common idiomatic way to describe the state of staring into space.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the phrase en las nubes is commonly used to mean daydreaming or being lost in thought. In Argentina and Uruguay, en la luna is used to mean being mentally absent or daydreaming. The phrase En Babia is an informal way to say someone is daydreaming or mentally absent.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can substitute la nada with el vacío to express the same idea of staring into a void or empty space.
How do you pronounce it?
/miɾando a la nada/
Did you know?
- The phrase está en Babia refers to a remote region in northwest Spain where medieval kings went to retreat and disconnect from the world.
- The word nada comes from a Latin root meaning 'not born', originally used to describe a 'nobody' or a 'no born thing'.
- The expression quedarse con la mirada perdida treats the act of staring as if the vision itself is a physical object that has been lost.
Examples in context
- María se quedó absorta en sus pensamientos durante la reunión.María was staring into space during the meeting.
- El profesor notó la mirada perdida de Pedro durante la clase de matemáticas.The teacher noticed Pedro's staring into space during math class.
- No le hagas caso, está en Babia otra vez.Don't mind him, he's staring into space again.
- Durante horas estuvimos sentados, mirando al vacío y conversando sobre la vida.For hours, we sat staring into space, talking about life.
- Se quedó mirando a la nada un buen rato.He stayed staring into space for a good while.
- No me escuchas porque estás mirando a la nada.You aren't listening to me because you are staring into space.
- Pasé la tarde mirando a la nada en el parque.I spent the afternoon staring into space in the park.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are sitting in a cafe together.
- AlejandroSofía, ¿estás bien?Sofía, are you okay?
- SofíaSí, solo estaba mirando a la nada.Yes, I was just staring into space.
- AlejandroParecías muy distraída.You seemed very distracted.
- SofíaEs que estaba pensando en el trabajo.It's just that I was thinking about work.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, la, nada, CC BY-SA 4.0.
