Whether you're ringing in the New Year or simply setting new personal goals, knowing how to express your resolutions in Spanish is a valuable skill. While New Year's resolutions in Spanish ("propósitos or resoluciones de Año Nuevo") are a popular tradition, the grammar and vocabulary we'll explore today can help you articulate any type of goal or commitment throughout the year.
Before diving into the grammar, let's look at how native Spanish speakers naturally express their resolutions:
y cuando llega enero, empezamos con todas las resoluciones, que queremos hacer las cosas diferente. Entonces, en un sentido es, quiero bajar de peso, quiero hacer ejercicio, quiero comer más saludable, y en el lado financiero, quiero salir de deudas, quiero comenzar a ahorrar, quiero hacer un presupuesto.
and when January comes, we start with all the resolutions, that we want to do things differently. So, in one sense it's, I want to lose weight, I want to exercise, I want to eat more healthy, and on the financial side, I want to get out of debt, I want to start to save, I want to create a budget.
Captions 20-26, Cuentas claras Sobreviviendo enero - Part 1
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As we can see in this example, Spanish speakers often use the verb "querer" (to want) followed by an infinitive to express their resolutions. This is just one of several grammatical structures we'll explore in this lesson.
Before we dive into specific grammatical structures, let's learn some key phrases:
- los propósitos de Año Nuevo = New Year's resolutions
- hacer propósitos = to make resolutions
- cumplir los propósitos = to keep/fulfill resolutions
- intentar = to try
- empezar de nuevo = to start anew
- proponerse = to set oneself (a goal)
When stating your resolutions in Spanish, you can use several constructions:
- Este año voy a... (This year I'm going to...)
- Me propongo... (I intend to...)
- Pienso + infinitive (I plan to...)
- Quiero + infinitive (I want to...)
- Me comprometo a... (I commit to...)
Y yo me comprometo a hacer rendir el mercado,
And I commit to making the supplies last
Caption 21, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 10 - Part 5
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When talking about your resolutions, you might want to use these expressions:
- Espero cumplir con... = I hope to fulfill...
- Mi meta es... = My goal is...
- Este año me dedicaré a... = This year I'll dedicate myself to...
- Lo más importante para mí es... = The most important thing for me is...
When expressing resolutions in Spanish, certain grammatical constructions are particularly useful. Let's explore each one:
This structure expresses immediate future plans and is perfect for resolutions:
Voy a + infinitive = I am going to + verb
Vamos a + infinitive = We are going to + verb
Voy a hacer más ejercicio este año.
I'm going to exercise more this year.
Sometimes, using the present tense can express a stronger commitment:
Desde mañana como más verduras.
Starting tomorrow, I eat more vegetables.
For more distant objectives, use the future tense:
Ahorraré más dinero este año.
I will save more money this year.
Certain verbs commonly used in resolutions require an infinitive:
- Necesito + infinitive (I need to)
- Quiero + infinitive (I want to)
- Debo + infinitive (I must/should)
Necesito dormir más horas.
I need to sleep more hours.
Many resolution-related verbs are reflexive:
- Proponerse = to intend, to set oneself (to do something)
- Comprometerse = to commit oneself
- Dedicarse = to dedicate oneself
Me propongo estudiar todos los días.
I intend to study every day.
Add purpose to your resolutions with the preposition para:
Voy al gimnasio para estar más saludable.
I go to the gym to be healthier.
The construction "dejar de + infinitive" expresses stopping or quitting something. This is particularly useful for resolutions about breaking habits:
- Dejar de + infinitive = to stop/quit doing something
- Parar de + infinitive = to stop doing something
- Terminar de + infinitive = to finish doing something
"¿Cómo llevas lo de dejar de fumar?" "Pues muy bien. Llevo ya un año sin probar calada".
"How are you dealing with the quitting smoking thing?" "Well, very well. I haven't taken a puff for a year now."
Captions 76-78, Fermín y Manuel El verbo "llevar" - Part 2
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Remember, while New Year's resolutions in Spanish follow these same patterns, you can use these structures to express goals and commitments any time:
- En este momento = At this moment
- A partir de hoy = Starting today
- Desde ahora = From now on
Whether you're setting New Year's resolutions in Spanish or making everyday commitments, these grammatical structures and phrases will help you express your intentions clearly. Remember, the key to achieving your goals is not just expressing them well, but also maintaining the consistency and determination to follow through. Good luck with your resolutions and don't forget to leave us your comments and suggestions!
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