Thread: Hoping for some help with this translation … thanks

Originally Posted by vicente

Hi Laura

I'm wondering if extrañar is widely used to say "I miss you". I know I've heard it and used it. It is less intimate than "me haces falta" but I have met people who were not aware of that definition so that was my question. Is it used in Argentina" In Spain? Or is it coloquial?

In Argentina, at least, we use "Te extraño" a lot. It's a regular phrase between lovers, friends, parents and kids, etc. "Extrañar" is a common verb, much like "amar" or "querer", in relationships.
"Me hacés falta" (in Argentina, with an accent), on the other hand, is limited to love relationships, more intimate as you say, and more like "I need you" than "I miss you". (Funny, but in Italian, as far as I know -which is not very far, btw, haha- the phrase for "I miss you" is "Mi sei mancata/o" = me haces falta; I mean I think there's no other option...) Of course you can say "me hace falta dormir más", or "me hace falta un lápiz" (= I need) and there's no love relationship involved! And you can also say "Extraño mi cama" (when you're sleeping some place else) or "Extraño esos días..." (no love meant, but just nostalgic...).

There's another use of "extrañar"... "Me extraña que no entiendas, Vicente." (= I'm amazed) (hahaha... sorry!) But you understand me, because we're not "extraños" (= strangers)

Good enough explanation?

Frank, if I didn't seriously and horribly ENVYYYYYYY your mastering of so many languages, I'd confess I love you too!

Laura

Hola

¿En la Argentina se utiliza “echar de menos”? ¿Aquí si utiliza tanto para las personas como para las cosas?

Gracias

extrañar is seldom used in Spain for "I miss you" but in the given sentence I think there is no doubt.

We would use: echar de menos

hmmm:

Me extraña que me extrañes tanto, ya que es extraño en estos días extraños que nadie extrañe a nadie. (guiño para vicente y Frank)

Hola, Kane:
No, nosotros no usamos "echar de menos"... Nos es perfectamente comprensible, pero en realidad, ¡nos suena a "lenguaje de películas"! No es del habla habitual.

Me encanta tu frase-firma!!!