a ver

See also: aver, avér, avēr, avêr, and avër

Portuguese

Pronunciation

• Homophone: haver

Adjective

a ver (invariable)

1. (colloquial) to do [with something] (related or relevant)

   Nada a ver!

   Nonsense!

   (literally, “That has nothing to do with anything!”)

2. (used with words tudo, nada, mais, muito, algo etc.) matching, harmonizing

   Esta camisa é tudo a ver com você!

   This shirt matches your personality in every way!

3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see a,‎ ver.

Derived terms

• ter a ver

Spanish

Etymology

Ellipsis of vamos a ver (literally “we are going to see”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a ˈbeɾ/ [a ˈβ̞eɾ]
• Syllabification: a ver
• Homophone: haber

Interjection

a ver

1. show me!; let me see!; let's have a look!

   Me he comprado unos zapatos. – ¿A ver?

   I bought some shoes. – Ooh, let me see!

2. a general lead-in, often to get someone's attention before asking a question or before giving an order; all right then; so; now...

   A ver, escúchame.

   Okay now, listen.

   Bueno, a ver, cuéntame más.

   All right, so, tell me more.

3. used when adding clarification; I mean; well...

   A ver, tampoco es para tanto.

   But I mean, it's no big deal.

4. used as a filled pause to indicate thinking or that one is looking for something; let's see...; let me see...; hmm

   Tienes azúcar moreno? – A ver.

   Do you have any brown sugar? – Hmm, let me see...

5. let's see if; let me see if

   A ver si encuentro algo para ti.

   Let's see if I can find something for you.

   A ver si te oí bien.

   Let me see if I heard you correctly.

   A ver si te lo puedo explicar.

   Hmm, how can I explain this to you...

6. indicates a challenge

   A ver si lo adivinas.

   Guess!

7. indicates curiosity; "I wonder"

   A ver si nos vemos.

   Perhaps we'll meet each other there!

   A ver cuándo empieza.

   I wonder when it starts.

8. indicates concern

   A ver si te caes.

   You might fall!

9. of course, obviously

   ¿Vas a hacerlo? – ¡A ver!

   Are you going to do it? – Of course!

10. used to encourage

    A ver cuándo vienes a visitarme.

    You should come visit!

Further reading

• “a ver”, in Diccionario de la lengua española (in Spanish), online version 23.7, Royal Spanish Academy, 2023 November 28