así mesmo / é dicir / ou sexa
Adding and Reformulating Ideas
Así mesmo adds another point: likewise, also. É dicir, ou sexa and noutras palabras restate an idea: Chegou tarde, é dicir, despois da cea (he arrived late, that is, after dinner).
How It Works
Adding a point: así mesmo
Así mesmo means likewise or also. It adds a new point and links it to one already made. It belongs to careful speech and writing: O museo abre de martes a domingo. Así mesmo, os xoves hai visitas guiadas. The dictionary writes it as two words. In everyday speech, tamén or ademais does the same job.
Do not use asemade for this meaning. Asemade means at the same time, and the dictionary marks its use for also as incorrect.
Restating an idea
- é dicir: that is. It is neutral and fits any register.
- ou sexa: in other words, I mean. It is very common in speech.
- noutras palabras: in other words. It rewords a longer or more difficult idea.
These phrases usually sit between commas: Vivo en Compostela, ou sexa, en Santiago. They can also follow a semicolon: Non ten carné; noutras palabras, non pode conducir.
Watch the Spanish forms
Write ou sexa, not o sea, and é dicir, not es decir.
Examples (5)
- Chegou tarde, é dicir, despois da cea.
He arrived late, that is, after dinner.
- Vivo en Compostela, ou sexa, en Santiago.
I live in Compostela, in other words, in Santiago.
Ou sexa clarifies the first name with a better-known one.
- O museo abre de martes a domingo. Así mesmo, os xoves hai visitas guiadas.
The museum opens from Tuesday to Sunday. Likewise, there are guided tours on Thursdays.
- Cómpre, así mesmo, revisar o orzamento.
It is also necessary to review the budget.
Así mesmo can sit inside the sentence, between commas.
- Non ten carné; noutras palabras, non pode conducir.
He does not have a licence; in other words, he cannot drive.
Common Mistakes
Using asemade to mean also or likewise.
Asemade, os xoves hai visitas guiadas.Así mesmo, os xoves hai visitas guiadas.Asemade means at the same time. For adding a point, use así mesmo.
Using the Spanish form o sea.
O sea, non pode vir.Ou sexa, non pode vir.The Galician form is ou sexa.
Writing the Spanish spelling asimismo.
Asimismo, cómpre revisar o orzamento.Así mesmo, cómpre revisar o orzamento.In Galician it is así mesmo, written as two words.
Related Patterns
- ademais / en cambio / pola contraEveryday Connectors
Everyday connectors, including ademais for adding a point.
Level 4 - tamén / tampoucoToo and Neither
Tamén is the everyday way to say also.
Level 2 - en primeiro lugar / por último / en resumoStructuring a Text
Other connectors that organise a formal text.
Level 5 - porén / non obstante / con todoFormal Contrast Connectors
Formal connectors for contrast.
Level 5 - xa que logo / por conseguinteFormal Consequence Connectors
Formal connectors for consequence.
Level 5
Practice así mesmo / é dicir / ou sexa in Bubblegum
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