lo que tenga que ser, será
To say what will be will be in Spanish, say lo que tenga que ser, será.
lo que tenga que ser, será expresses acceptance that you cannot control the future. People say it to calm themselves or others before an uncertain outcome.
What does it mean word for word?
lo que means what or whatever, tenga que ser means has to be and será means will be. Word for word the phrase is whatever has to be, will be.
How does it change in a sentence?
tenga is in the subjunctive because the phrase talks about something that has not happened yet and is not known. será is the future form of the verb to be.
What mistakes should you avoid?
The famous line from the 1956 song sung by Doris Day is not how Spanish speakers actually say this. Use lo que tenga que ser, será instead.
Did you know?
- The modern Spanish verb ser is a linguistic hybrid. Over time it absorbed the Old Spanish verb seer, which actually meant 'to sit'.
- While lo que tenga que ser, será expresses acceptance, Spanish speakers often pair this mindset with the phrase está escrito, meaning 'it is written'. This reflects a cultural tendency to view the future as a predetermined script.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, people might accompany a phrase of resignation like this with a slight shrug and a palms-up gesture to signal that the matter is entirely out of their hands.
Examples in context
- No te preocupes tanto, lo que tenga que ser, será.Don't worry so much, what will be will be.
- Simplemente acepta el destino, lo que tenga que ser, será.Simply accept destiny, what will be will be.
- No podemos cambiar el futuro, lo que tenga que ser, será.We cannot change the future, what will be will be.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are discussing the outcome of a job interview.
- SofíaEstoy muy nerviosa por los resultados del examen.I am very nervous about the exam results.
- MateoTranquila Sofía, lo que tenga que ser, será.Calm down Sofía, what will be will be.
- SofíaEspero que la decisión sea favorable.I hope the decision is favorable.
- MateoYa hiciste tu parte, ahora solo queda esperar.You already did your part, now there is only waiting left.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lo, que, ser, CC BY-SA 4.0.
