Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): A veces los celos aparecen cuando olvidamos valorar lo que ya tenemos. - Sometimes jealousy appears when we forget to value what we already have.

A veces means sometimes, indicating that something happens occasionally. You can replace it with algunas veces without changing the meaning. A menudo, on the other hand, means often, so it suggests a higher frequency than a veces.

Why is los celos plural if “jealousy” is uncountable in English?

In Spanish, celos is typically used in the plural to refer to the emotion of jealousy. It functions like a plural noun that expresses a concept (similar to las gafas for “glasses”), so you say tener celos or los celos aparecen.

Why do we use aparecen here? Could we use other verbs, and why is the present tense used?

Aparecen is the third‐person plural present tense of aparecer, meaning to appear or to show up. You match aparecen with the plural subject los celos. Alternatives include surgen (more formal) or brotan (metaphorical), but aparecer is very common. The present tense signals a general truth or habitual action: “jealousy sometimes appears...”

Why is there no de after olvidamos? Would olvidamos de valorar be correct?

When you use an infinitive, Spanish uses olvidar + infinitive without de (e.g., olvidamos valorar). The pronominal olvidarse de construction requires de but is followed by a noun or pronoun (e.g., me olvidé de la cita). So olvidamos de valorar is incorrect; you say olvidamos valorar.

What does valorar mean here? Is it “to value” or “to appreciate”?

Valorar can mean both to evaluate the worth and to appreciate something’s positive qualities. In this context, it leans toward to appreciate what we already have, recognizing its importance and value.

What role does lo play in lo que ya tenemos?

Lo is a neuter pronoun that, combined with que, forms lo que, meaning what or that which. It introduces a relative clause referring to an abstract concept: lo que ya tenemos = what we already have.

What does ya add to lo que ya tenemos? Can it be omitted or moved?

Ya means already and emphasizes that these things are currently in our possession. Omitting it (lo que tenemos) would lose the nuance of “already.” You could move ya after the verb (lo que tenemos ya), but placing it before the verb (lo que ya tenemos) is more natural and highlights the idea of “already.”