Deus llo pague

Pronoun Before the Verb in Wishes

Level 5

In a wish that starts with its subject, put the pronoun before the verb: Deus te garde (God keep you). The verb is in the present subjunctive.

How It Works

Wishes versus statements

Statement: O mestre axúdanos. (The teacher helps us.) The pronoun follows the verb.
Wish: Deus nos axude! (God help us!) The pronoun comes first.

Common formulas

Deus llo pague!: Thank you so much! (literally, may God repay you). Llo = lle + o, for vostede.
Deus cho pague!: the same to someone you call ti (che + o).
Deus volo pague!: the same to several people.
Deus te garde.: God keep you.
Así Deus me valla!: So help me God!
Mal raio o parta!: Damn him! (a curse)

With que

Wishes can also start with que. Then the pronoun goes before the verb anyway, as in any subordinate clause: Que Deus te bendiga.

Register

These formulas sound traditional and warm. Deus llo pague is still heard, especially among older speakers, as a heartfelt thank-you.

Examples (6)

Deus llo pague!
Thank you so much!
Word by Word: God it-to-you repay!
Said to someone you address as vostede.
Deus cho pague, filliño.
Thank you, dear.
Cho (che + o) is used with someone you call ti.
Deus te garde.
God keep you.
Deus nos axude!
God help us!
Así Deus me valla!
So help me God!
Mal raio o parta!
Damn him!
Word by Word: Bad lightning him split!
Curses follow the same order as blessings.

Common Mistakes

Attaching the pronoun after the verb in a wish.
Deus gárdete.
Deus te garde.
In a wish that starts with its subject, the pronoun goes before the verb.
Not combining lle and o.
Deus lle o pague.
Deus llo pague.
When lle and o meet, they combine into llo.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Deus llo pagueLevel 5Pronoun Before the Verb in Wishes

Learn This First

A wish can place a pronoun before the verb even after an overt subject.

Words in This Pattern