polo visto
Apparently: Polo Visto
Polo visto means apparently. It shows that the speaker learned something from what they saw or heard: Polo visto, non vén (apparently, he is not coming).
How It Works
What it adds
Polo visto tells the listener where the information comes from: the speaker heard it or worked it out from signs, and is passing it on. It is similar to English apparently or it seems.
Form
It is always polo visto, with the contraction por + o = polo. Do not use the Spanish form por lo visto. Visto is the irregular participle of ver.
Position
- At the start: Polo visto, a tenda pecha os luns (apparently, the shop is closed on Mondays).
- At the end: Marcharon onte, polo visto (they left yesterday, apparently).
Mood. The verb stays in the indicative, because the speaker is reporting something as information, not as a wish or a doubt.
Similar words. Seica and disque also pass on information heard from others. Se cadra is different: it is a guess (maybe), not reported information.
Examples (5)
- Polo visto, non vén.
Apparently, he is not coming.
Word by Word: By-the seen, not he-comes.
The speaker has heard this from someone else.
- Polo visto, a tenda pecha os luns.
Apparently, the shop is closed on Mondays.
The verb stays in the indicative.
- Marcharon onte, polo visto.
They left yesterday, apparently.
Polo visto can also go at the end.
- Polo visto, Antía aprobou todo.
Apparently, Antía passed everything.
The news is passed on without the speaker having checked it.
- E polo visto ninguén sabía nada.
And apparently nobody knew anything.
Polo visto can also sit inside the sentence.
Common Mistakes
Using the Spanish form.
Por lo visto, non vén.Polo visto, non vén.In Galician, por + o contracts to polo.
Using the subjunctive after polo visto.
Polo visto, non veña.Polo visto, non vén.Polo visto reports information, so the verb stays in the indicative.
Related Patterns
- seicaApparently: Seica
Another way to pass on information the speaker has heard.
Level 5 - disqueThey Say: Disque
A colloquial way to say they say or supposedly.
Level 5 - por + o = poloContractions of Por with the Article
The contraction inside polo visto.
Level 1 - Irregular Past Participles
Visto is the irregular participle of ver.
Level 3 - se cadraMaybe: Se Cadra
A guess (maybe), not reported information.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice polo visto in Bubblegum
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