Exclamations of quantity or degree (¡lo que...!, ¡la de...!)

When navigating a crowded tourist trap or an overpriced souvenir stall, you might need to express your shock or frustration.

Emphasizing an action: ¡lo que...!

To emphasize the extreme degree or intensity of an action, use the exclamatory structure ¡lo que + verb + !. This translates roughly to "How much...!" or "The amount...!".

How overwhelming it is to walk in this street market!
¡Lo que agobia caminar en este mercadillo!
The amount they charge for a bottle of water!
¡Lo que cobran por una botella de agua!
The amount those pieces of junk cost!
¡Lo que cuestan esos cachivaches!

Emphasizing a quantity: ¡la de...!

When you want to exclaim about a huge quantity of things or people, use the fixed phrase ¡la de + noun + que...!. This translates to "The amount of [noun] that...!" or "The number of [noun] that...!".

Keep in mind that la in this structure never changes, even if the noun following it is masculine or plural.

The amount of magnets that they sell here!
¡La de imanes que venden aquí!
The amount of junk that they buy!
¡La de cachivaches que compran!
The amount of scammers that surround the tourists!
¡La de estafadores que rodean a los turistas!