te pareces a Shrek
/te paɾeθes a sɾek/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "you look like shrek" is te pareces a Shrek.
This phrase is used to tell someone that their physical appearance resembles the character Shrek.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the reflexive verb parecerse (to resemble) and the preposition a (to), which is required when stating what someone resembles.
Which one should you use?
You can also use Eres igual a Shrek to express that someone is exactly like him.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb parecerse is reflexive and must be followed by the preposition a before the object of comparison.
How do you pronounce it?
/te paɾeθes a sɾek/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say te pareces Shrek, omitting the preposition. In Spanish, you must include a after the verb when making a comparison.
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, this phrase can be used as a 'bromance' joke among close male friends, transforming a literal insult into a sign of affection and intimacy.
- Calling someone an ogro instead of mentioning Shrek can shift the meaning from a physical joke to a comment about the person having a frightening or bad temper.
- The word parecer comes from the Latin 'pārēre', which meant 'to appear' or 'to be visible', originally referring to how something manifests to the eye.
Examples in context
- Te ves como Shrek.You look like Shrek.
- ¡Estás igualito a Shrek!You look exactly like Shrek!
- Te pareces a Shrek con ese disfraz.You look like Shrek in that costume.
- ¡No te pareces a Shrek, te ves genial!You don't look like Shrek, you look great!
- ¿Por qué dices que te pareces a Shrek?Why do you say you look like Shrek?
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are looking at a funny filter on a phone.
- AlejandroMira esta foto, te pareces a Shrek.Look at this photo, you look like Shrek.
- Lucía¡No es verdad! No me parezco.That's not true! I don't look like him.
- AlejandroSí, te pareces a Shrek exactamente.Yes, you look exactly like Shrek.
- LucíaBorra esa foto ahora mismo.Delete that photo right now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
