En otras palabras, la respuesta es no.

Breakdown of En otras palabras, la respuesta es no.

ser
to be
no
no, not
la respuesta
the answer
en otras palabras
in other words

Questions & Answers about En otras palabras, la respuesta es no.

How does en otras palabras fit in with explicative markers like es decir and o sea?
En otras palabras (in other words) is an explicative marker used to clarify or simplify what was just said. It functions exactly like es decir and o sea, but specifically focuses on the fact that you are rephrasing the previous thought for clarity. It is slightly more formal than o sea but works perfectly in everyday conversation.
Could I substitute es decir or o sea in this exact sentence?
Absolutely. You could say Es decir, la respuesta es no or O sea, la respuesta es no. O sea would sound a bit more casual, almost like saying 'So, basically, the answer is no,' while en otras palabras sounds a bit more deliberate.
I sometimes want to add an article and say en unas otras palabras. Why is it just en otras palabras?
English speakers often try to translate 'in some other words,' but in Spanish, the word otro (and its forms like otras) never takes an indefinite article. You never say un otro or una otra. You simply attach it directly to the noun as otras palabras.
Is it grammatically natural to use no at the end of the sentence like a noun?
Yes! Just like in English, the words and no can function essentially as nouns when they are the answer to a question. Saying la respuesta es no is perfectly natural and doesn't require any extra phrasing like una respuesta negativa.

Learn En otras palabras, la respuesta es no 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