el que se escapó
/el ke se eskapo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "the one that got away" is translated as el que se escapó.
This phrase refers to a person that someone loved or wanted to be with but lost. While the verb escaparse can refer to physically running away or escaping from a location, in a romantic context, the phrase functions as a metaphor for a lost person or a lost opportunity.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of el que (the one that), se (a reflexive pronoun) and escapó (escaped/got away).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes based on the gender and number of the people being discussed. If you are referring to a female, you must change the masculine article to the feminine form la que se escapó. To refer to multiple people, use the plural form los que se escaparon.
Did you know?
- While el que se escapó is used for romance, the same verb escapar is used for everything from a prisoner fleeing jail to a gas leak in a kitchen.
- The article el comes from the Latin word 'ille'. Although it looks like the Arabic word for 'the' al, they are false cognates and have entirely different origins.
Examples in context
- Siempre lamento la oportunidad perdida con la persona que se me escapó.I always regret the missed opportunity with the one that got away.
- Siempre me arrepentiré de no haber luchado por el que se me fue.I will always regret not fighting for the one that got away.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofia are talking about their past relationships.
- DanielA veces pienso en mi primer amor.Sometimes I think about my first love.
- Sofía¿Sientes que fue el que se escapó?Do you feel like he was the one that got away?
- DanielSí, cometí un gran error.Yes, I made a big mistake.
- SofíaTodos tenemos una historia así.We all have a story like that.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, que, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
