se olvidaron de mí
/se olbidaɾon de mi/from spelling rules
The English phrase "they forgot me" is translated into Spanish as se olvidaron de mí.
This phrase is used when people fail to remember someone or neglect to include them in an activity.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "they forgot themselves of me" because the reflexive pronoun se is part of the pronominal verb structure used for this meaning.
Which one should you use?
While me olvidaron is grammatically possible, se olvidaron de mí is much more common when expressing that someone neglected or failed to remember a person.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb olvidar is used here in its pronominal form olvidarse, which requires the preposition de before the object.
How do you pronounce it?
/se olbidaɾon de mi/
Did you know?
- The word se in this phrase is a linguistic shapeshifter that evolved from the Old Spanish ge, which was originally derived from the Latin word illī meaning 'to him'.
- In Spanish, the phrase se olvidaron de mí can be used literally to describe being physically left behind, such as a child accidentally left at a store.
- The verb olvidar shares a deep linguistic ancestor with the English word 'oblivion', both stemming from the same Latin root for the state of being forgotten.
Examples in context
- Ayer salieron todos juntos y me olvidaron, ¡me sentí como si no existiera!Yesterday, they all went out together and they forgot me, I felt like I didn't even exist!
- No me invitaron a la fiesta. Se olvidaron de mí.They didn't invite me to the party, they forgot me.
- Se olvidaron de mí en la fiesta.They forgot me at the party.
- Fui al cine y se olvidaron de mí.I went to the cinema and they forgot me.
- No me avisaron, se olvidaron de mí.They didn't notify me, they forgot me.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are talking about a group outing that happened yesterday.
- Alejandro¿Fuiste al parque con tus amigos?Did you go to the park with your friends?
- ElenaNo, se olvidaron de mí.No, they forgot me.
- AlejandroQué mal, lo siento mucho, Elena.That's too bad, I'm very sorry, Elena.
- ElenaNo te preocupes, Alejandro.Don't worry, Alejandro.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, mí, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
