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How to Say ‘So we don't fall short’ in Spain Spanish

Para no quedarnos cortos

PAH-rah noh keh-DAHR-nohs KOR-tohs

[PAH-rah noh keh-DAHR-nohs KOR-tohs]

💬 Usage Tip: Quedarse corto means "to come up short" and works for food, money or space alike. Corto changes to match who falls short: nos quedamos cortos "we fell short" becomes me quedé corta when a woman says "I fell short".

Phrase Breakdown

Para no quedarnos

PAH-rah noh keh-DAHR-nohs

So that we don't end up

'Para no' plus an infinitive means 'so as not to'. Stress 'que-DAR-nos'.

Example

Para no quedarnos sin sitio.

So that we don't run out of space.

Words in this phrase

Para

[PAH-rah]

so as to, in order to

Before an infinitive, it expresses purpose.

Example

Llamo para reservar.

I'm calling in order to book.

[noh]

not

A word used to negate or make something negative.

Example

No nos vamos a la fiesta.

We are not going to the party.

quedarnos

[keh-DAHR-nohs]

to end up / to be left

'Quedarse' with 'nos'; 'quedarnos cortos' = to fall short.

Example

No queremos quedarnos sin sitio.

We don't want to end up without space.

cortos

[KOR-tohs]

short

Plural adjective; 'quedarse corto' means to underestimate.

Example

Compramos poco y nos quedamos cortos.

We bought little and fell short.

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