Thread: Someter

I've looked in the dictionary for the word "someter" And the meaning it give's doesnt make sense to when I heard on TV. for example I heard someone say "No estoy sometiendo a nadie" .. does it have a different meaning, and is it a commenly used word?

From WordReference
someter verbo transitivo
1 (subyugar, sojuzgar) to subdue, put down
2 (a votación, opinión, juicio) lo sometió a nuestro juicio, he left it to us to judge
3 (a una prueba, un experimento, interrogatorio, etc) to subject [a, to]

- Diccionario Espasa Concise: Español-Inglés English-Spanish
© Espasa-Calpe, S.A., Madrid 2000

I think your example means something like "No one is breaking my will"

Hope it helps!

Originally Posted by mem286

I think your example means something like "No one is breaking my will"

I'd say that "No estoy sometiendo a nadie" (Yo no estoy sometiendo a nadie, sujeto tácito "yo") means "I'm not breaking anyone's will". "No one is breaking my will" would be "No estoy sometido a nadie" (passive voice).

Anyway, though the original statment is correct, it sounds incomplete to me. At least in Argentina, we rarely use the verb "someter" alone, but in compound forms like in no estoy sometiendo a nadie a violencia, el genocida será sometido a juicio, etc.

Hope it helps.

Originally Posted by Moni

I'd say that "No estoy sometiendo a nadie" (Yo no estoy sometiendo a nadie, sujeto tácito "yo") means "I'm not breaking anyone's will". "No one is breaking my will" would be "No estoy sometido a nadie" (passive voice).

Anyway, though the original statment is correct, it sounds incomplete to me. At least in Argentina, we rarely use the verb "someter" alone, but in compound forms like in no estoy sometiendo a nadie a violencia, el genocida será sometido a juicio, etc.

Hope it helps.

You're right Moni. I misread it. Thank you very much for your corrections!

You are most welcome Mer! As my signature reads, please correct my mistakes whenever you find them.

Originally Posted by SandraT

In this case it can also be "I am not forcing anyone" which implies I am "not breaking anyone's will" but I also feel something else is missing...
like I am not forcing anyone to ....or smth like that.


ho pe it helps

Ah sandra, that makes perfect sense because the subject was about him not being the one to blame for their wedding and thats when he said that quote.... Thanks to everybody for there help, you are all very intelligent and helpfull.

1 (subyugar, sojuzgar) to subdue, put down
2 (a votación, opinión, juicio) lo sometió a nuestro juicio, he left it to us to judge
3 (a una prueba, un experimento, interrogatorio, etc) to subject [a, to]

It looks like in this case meaning #1 applies. More than put down, he seems to say that during their marriage he never brought her down to his will.
In meanings 2 & 3, either to subject or submit may be used (to submit to interrogation, subjected to somebody's judgement).