Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| lo que sea | /lo ke ˈsea/ | |
| como sea | /ˌkomo ˈsea/ | |
| no importa | /no impoɾta/ (from spelling rules) | |
| da igual | /da iɡwal/ (from spelling rules) | |
| lo que digas | /lo ke diɡas/ (from spelling rules) | |
| lo que tú digas | /lo ke tu diɡas/ (from spelling rules) | |
| lo dicho | /lo dit͡ʃo/ (from spelling rules) | |
| me la suda | /me la ˈsuda/ | vulgar |
| me importa una mierda | /me impoɾta una mjeɾda/ (from spelling rules) | vulgar |
| me importa un comino | /me impoɾta un komino/ (from spelling rules) | |
| me importa un pepino | /me impoɾta un pepino/ (from spelling rules) | |
| ni fu ni fa | /niˌfu niˈfa/ | colloquial |
| velay | /belai/ (from spelling rules) | |
| velahí | /belai/ (from spelling rules) | alternative form |
| filo | /ˈfilo/ | Chile |
The various Spanish forms for "whatever" are used to indicate that the speaker is indifferent or does not care about what is being said or what is happening. lo que sea can be used as a standalone response to show dismissiveness, much like the English "whatever".
Which one should you use?
While lo que sea is used to refer to an unspecified thing or object, lo que digas refers specifically to whatever someone says. For expressing indifference, no importa and da igual are common, while ni fu ni fa is a colloquial way to convey a neutral or indifferent feeling.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Indifference can be expressed across many registers. For formal contexts, Sea lo que sea means "be that as it may" or "whatever it may be". Informal options include como sea and da igual, which expresses absolute indifference. If you want to be idiomatic but stay non-vulgar, you can use me importa un comino (I don't care a bit) or me importa un pepino (I don't care at all). There are also vulgar forms for expressing extreme indifference: me la suda and me importa una mierda.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Chile, the colloquialism filo is used to express indifference or to say that something doesn't matter. The forms velay and its alternative spelling velahí are also present in the language.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase lo que digas utilizes the subjunctive mood to express uncertainty or indifference regarding the specific content of what is being said.
How do you pronounce it?
/lo ke ˈsea/
Did you know?
- In Chile, the word filo is used as a slang term for indifference, which differs from its standard meaning as 'edge' or 'blade'.
- The common expression for indifference me importa un comino translates literally to 'it matters to me a cumin seed'.
- The phrase ni fu ni fa is often used to describe something that is neither good nor bad, acting as a verbal shrug.
Examples in context
- Lo que tú digas.Whatever you say.This example shows how to use lo que tú digas.Tatoeba #2006584 by marcelostockle, translation #70988 by CK
- Digas lo que digas, no te creo.Whatever you may say, I don't believe you.This example demonstrates the use of lo que digas.Tatoeba #637424 by Leono, translation #17919 by Zifre
- Él hará lo que sea que le pidas.He'll do whatever you ask him to.This example shows how to use lo que sea in a sentence.Tatoeba #2311757 by marcelostockle, translation #295614 by CK
- Es tu decisión, haré lo que sea necesario.It's your decision, I'll do whatever is necessary.
- Sea lo que sea, no cambiará la situación.Whatever it may be, it won't change the situation.
- Vamos a la playa o al cine, lo que sea.Let's go to the beach or the movies, whatever.
- Me da igual, ni fu ni fa.I don't care, whatever.
- Da igual si cambiamos el plan, estoy dispuesto a lo que sea.It doesn't matter if we change the plan, I'm up for whatever.
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Javier are arguing about where to eat dinner.
- MaríaPodemos ir al restaurante italiano si quieres.We can go to the Italian restaurant if you want.
- JavierLo que sea, no tengo hambre ahora.Whatever, I am not hungry right now.
- MaríaJavier, siempre haces lo mismo cuando te enfadas.Javier, you always do the same thing when you get angry.
- JavierEstá bien, vamos a donde tú prefieras.Fine, let's go wherever you prefer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “whatever” translations and entries lo que sea, como sea, no importa, me la suda, ni fu ni fa, velay, velahí, filo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
