Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

no puedo mas

English translation:

I can't take it anymore

Added to glossary by Lydia De Jorge
Feb 26, 2020 23:55
4 yrs ago
46 viewers *
Spanish term

no puedo mas

Non-PRO Spanish to English Art/Literary Religion diary
Hi everyone,

This is a entry from a diary entry [diary to be published in book form]:

"A casa... Todo el dia en la cama. Hemorragia. Me encuentro mal. No voy al Centro, a la reunion [...]. No puedo mas."

So hard to translate this phrase, that Spaniards use so often!

"I just can't go on" sounds so dramatic, as if one were unable to continue on in some heroic undertaking.

"I'm exhausted" is not quite right.

"I'm finished for the day" is too colloquial and imprecise.

"I can't go on", "I can't go on today", or something else...

Thoughts?

Thanks everybody,

Peter
Change log

Mar 3, 2020 15:55: Michele Fauble changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"

Mar 11, 2020 16:13: Lydia De Jorge Created KOG entry

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (3): philgoddard, Juan Jacob, Michele Fauble

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Discussion

neilmac Feb 27, 2020:
PRO query In my book at any rate, this is definitely a PRO query, evidenced by the plethora of options to choose from. I think being able to choose the best option is a pro skill.
neilmac Feb 27, 2020:
Anecdote This phrase reminds me of a party I went to years ago, when a very drunk guest (not me) was singing along to this. Eventually the words proved prophetic and said person came out with a technicolour barf, after drinking too much alcohol and mixing the grain and the grape. Every time anyone mentioned his name after that, someone would utter the immortal words, evoking the moment for posterity. :)
Juan Jacob Feb 27, 2020:
No puedo más. No puedo mas = I can't but...

Proposed translations

+9
22 mins
Selected

I can't take it anymore

sugg
Peer comment(s):

agree Phoenix III
2 hrs
Thanks!
agree Danielle Coleman : Or 'I can't take any more' - slightly less dramatic.
7 hrs
Thanks!
agree Rebecca Breekveldt
10 hrs
Thanks!
agree Robert Forstag
13 hrs
Thanks!
agree Ruth Rubina : yes, this is the most common expression
18 hrs
Thank you, Ruth!
agree patinba
19 hrs
Gracias!
agree bcsantos
20 hrs
Gracias!
agree PARASKEVI KAVAKIOTI
3 days 15 hrs
Thank you!
agree MollyRose
4 days
Thanks!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+1
2 mins

I've had enough

Alternatively: I'm fed up
Peer comment(s):

agree philgoddard
1 hr
Something went wrong...
+1
19 mins

I can't bear it

This is another option not so tragic
Peer comment(s):

agree AllegroTrans : Seems to hit the right note albeit we only have a small sample of the overall text
8 mins
Thank you AllegroTrans
Something went wrong...
-4
34 mins

i´am stuffed

It is a very common slang expression instead of ¨I have enough.¨

https://www.phrasemix.com/phrases/im-stuffed
Peer comment(s):

disagree AllegroTrans : "i' am" is not English. The phrase "I'm stuffed" means that your stomach is very, very full (at least here in Europe)
6 mins
disagree Juan Jacob : Ojo ahí, colega.
2 hrs
disagree Robert Forstag : Allegro has indicated above why this would be an egregious mistranslation here.
13 hrs
disagree patinba : Wrong in the context
19 hrs
Something went wrong...
38 mins

I’ve had all I can take.

In the context, but I think “I can’t go on like this” also works.
Something went wrong...
+2
8 hrs

I can't take much more of this

The expression can mean reaching a physical or emotional limit. What was inside your brackets?! Anyway, this might work...
Peer comment(s):

agree neilmac
32 mins
agree patinba
11 hrs
Something went wrong...
10 hrs

It's unbearable

Just another option - could be combined with 'I can't take it anymore'.
Something went wrong...
12 hrs
Spanish term (edited): no puedo más

I'm so sick of it all / I'm so sick and tired of it all.

Another approach which plays off the fact that the person is, in fact, actually sick.
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/sick and tired

NB: "mas" needs an accent. ;-)
No puedo más.
Something went wrong...
13 hrs

I just can't anymore

It really depends. A lot of options are possible. But I know I have said this naturally in a lot of similar situations. I'm Irish.
Something went wrong...
+1
55 mins
Spanish term (edited): no puedo mas

couldn't be doing with it

or "can't be doing with it" if you like.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 days (2020-03-02 21:27:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Looking at this diary entry again, and thought about what I would actually think (or write) in the same situation, and the answer is: Not able.
Peer comment(s):

neutral Phoenix III : I don't think so.
1 hr
I do think so for European English
agree neilmac : I get it, but it may feel a bit too "British" for our dissenting colleague...
7 hrs
Good point. I tend to agree
neutral patinba : I don't. The person seems to be in bed bleeding. Your suggestion sound like your excuse when you chased the cat out into the garden.
19 hrs
I don't understand what you're getting at here?
neutral MollyRose : Not U.S. English; it sounds odd.
4 days
As a native U.S. English speaker, thanks for confirming this. I suspected it would sound odd on your side of the pond, but wasn't sure. At any rate, if the target English is for the U.K., this could work...
Something went wrong...
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