ELONIO
Log inSign up

No abras la válvula, es decir, la fuga es peligrosa.

No abras la válvula, es decir, la fuga es peligrosa.
Do not open the valve, that is to say, the leak is dangerous.
From Lesson 196:Clarification connectors (es decir, o sea)·Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about No abras la válvula, es decir, la fuga es peligrosa.

How exactly is es decir functioning in this sentence?
Es decir translates to "that is to say" or "in other words". Here, it acts as a clarification connector. The speaker gives a command (No abras la válvula) and then uses es decir to clarify the urgency of that command by stating the underlying reason (la fuga es peligrosa).
Could I use o sea instead of es decir here?
Yes! You could say ..., o sea, la fuga es peligrosa. Both are clarification connectors used to rephrase or explain something. Es decir sounds slightly more formal and is very common in writing, while o sea is extremely common in everyday spoken Latin American Spanish.
Why is it No abras with an "a" instead of No abres?
This is a negative command for tú (informal "you"). In Spanish, negative commands always use the present subjunctive endings. Since abrir is an -ir verb, its regular tú ending flips from -es to -as, giving us No abras.
Does fuga always mean "leak"?
It means "leak" when talking about liquids, gases, or even secret information. However, its core meaning is "escape" or "flight" (like a prison break: fuga de la cárcel). Thinking of a leak as a gas "escaping" can help you remember it!

Learn No abras la válvula, es decir, la fuga es peligrosa and more in Spanish

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Spanish →