eres un esclavo
/eɾes un esklabo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you're a slave" is translated into Spanish as eres un esclavo.
Which one should you use?
The form eres un esclavo is used for a single person, whereas sois esclavos (Spain) or son esclavos (Latin America) would be used for a group of people.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase Eres un esclavo/a is widely understood and accepted throughout Latin American countries.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes gender to match the person being addressed: use un esclavo for a male and una esclava for a female. The form eres un esclavo uses the informal tú conjugation.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase soy un esclavo de… is used as a romantic hyperbole to express intense devotion to a partner.
- The word esclavo comes from the Medieval Latin word for 'a Slav'. This is because many people from Slavic regions were enslaved in the early Middle Ages.
- In modern Spanish, eres un esclavo is often used metaphorically to describe someone who is overworked or obsessed. It is frequently used to describe a 'slave to fashion' or a 'slave to a job'.
Examples in context
- Usted es un esclavo de sus propias creencias.You are a slave to your own beliefs.
- Eres un esclavo del trabajo.You're a slave to work.
- Sin el teléfono, eres un esclavo de la tecnología.Without a phone, you're a slave to technology.
- Si no tienes control, eres un esclavo de tus impulsos.If you have no control, you're a slave to your impulses.
- En este trabajo, sientes que eres un esclavo del jefe.In this job, you feel like you're a slave to the boss.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are discussing the pressures of modern life.
- ElenaDaniel, trabajas demasiado y no tienes tiempo libre.Daniel, you work too much and have no free time.
- DanielEs verdad, siento que no puedo parar.It's true, I feel like I can't stop.
- ElenaSi no descansas, eres un esclavo de tu propia rutina.If you don't rest, you're a slave to your own routine.
- DanielTienes razón, necesito un cambio de vida.You're right, I need a change in my life.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries eres, esclavo, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
