podemos hacerlo
/podemos aθeɾlo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "we can do it" is translated into Spanish as podemos hacerlo.
podemos hacerlo is used to express confidence that a task can be successfully completed by a group.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of podemos (we can), hacer (to do/make) and the enclitic pronoun -lo (it).
Which one should you use?
While podemos hacerlo refers to a masculine or neutral object, podemos hacerla would be used if the object being 'done' is a feminine noun.
How does it change in a sentence?
The object pronoun lo (it) is attached to the end of the infinitive hacer to form a single word. The pronoun lo can also be placed before the conjugated verb podemos instead of being attached to the end of the infinitive, resulting in lo podemos hacer.
How do you pronounce it?
/podemos aθeɾlo/
Did you know?
- If a group is cheering during a match, they rarely use 'podemos hacerlo' because it sounds too clinical. Instead, they often shout '¡Sí se puede!', a famous slogan that expresses the same sentiment of possibility but with much more passion.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, instead of using the literal 'we can do it', people might use 'nos sale' to indicate that a group is capable of producing a specific result. This phrase focuses more on the outcome 'coming out' of the effort rather than the act of 'doing'.
- The verb hacer is a distant relative of the English word 'do' through a complex path, but it is actually a cognate of the French 'faire' and the Italian 'fare'.
Examples in context
- Sé que podemos hacerlo.I know we can do it.This sentence shows how to express certainty about a shared capability using podemos hacerlo.Tatoeba #1621049 by marcelostockle, translation #1621033 by Spamster
- Me pregunto si podemos hacerlo.I wonder if we can do it.This sentence demonstrates using the phrase to express doubt or questioning using podemos hacerlo.Tatoeba #5205451 by Elyte, translation #5205128 by CK
- Veamos si podemos hacerlo sin ayuda.Let's see if we can do it without any help.This sentence shows the phrase being used in the context of testing a capability without assistance using podemos hacerlo.Tatoeba #2558102 by hayastan, translation #2007236 by CK
- Podemos hacerlo con éxitoWe can do it successfully
- Todos juntos, podemos lograrloTogether, we can achieve it
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are working together on a difficult puzzle.
- LucíaEs difícil, pero podemos hacerlo.It is difficult, but we can do it.
- DanielSí, Lucía, estoy seguro de que podemos hacerlo.Yes, Lucía, I am sure we can do it.
- Lucía¿Crees que terminaremos hoy?Do you think we will finish today?
- Daniel¡Claro que sí!Of course we will!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
