Unconditional determination: "No matter what..."
To express absolute determination or indifference to obstacles, Spanish uses a unique repeating structure called a reduplicative subjunctive clause.
The formula is simple: [Subjunctive verb] + lo que + [Same subjunctive verb].
This translates to "whatever [verb]s" or "no matter what [verb]s". Two of the most common expressions use the verbs pasar (to happen) and ser (to be):
- pase lo que pase: whatever happens / no matter what happens
- sea lo que sea: whatever it is / no matter what it is
| I am going to face the problem, whatever happens. | Yo voy a enfrentar el problema, pase lo que pase. |
| I want to face it, whatever it is. | Quiero enfrentarlo, sea lo que sea. |
Other common reduplicative phrases
You can use this same structure with other verbs to express pushing past specific types of barriers. Notice that when referring to what other people might do or say, the subjunctive verb is pluralized (hagan, digan).
- cueste lo que cueste: whatever it costs / at all costs
- digan lo que digan: whatever they say / no matter what they say
- hagan lo que hagan: whatever they do / no matter what they do
| We must face adversity, whatever it costs. | Debemos enfrentar la adversidad, cueste lo que cueste. |
| He is invincible, whatever they say. | Él es invencible, digan lo que digan. |
| You are going to triumph, whatever they do. | Tú vas a triunfar, hagan lo que hagan. |
Overcoming the odds
Combine these unconditional statements with strong adjectives like inquebrantable (unwavering) or imparable (unstoppable) to talk about persisting against extreme adversity.
| My faith is unwavering, whatever happens. | Mi fe es inquebrantable, pase lo que pase. |
| Now she is unstoppable, whatever happens. | Ahora ella es imparable, pase lo que pase. |