Spanish Grammar For Real Life
Según In Spanish: Easy Ways To Say According To And Depending On
One little word, several jobs, and yes, it is absolutely the kind of word that makes learners feel smart right before it humbles them.
The first time I heard según in a busy office in Mexico City, I translated it as “according to” and felt very pleased with myself for about six seconds. Then someone said Según el tráfico, llegamos en media hora, later another person said Según tú, yo nunca escucho, and suddenly my neat little translation was not so neat anymore. Rude word. Useful word. Very Spanish.
The good news is that según is not random. Once you understand its main jobs, you can read it, hear it, and use it without freezing every time it shows up. In this guide, you’ll learn the meanings that matter most, the pronoun mistake learners make all the time, and the real-life patterns that actually stick.
The Fast Answer
- Según often means according to: Según el doctor, necesito descansar. = According to the doctor, I need to rest.
- It also means depending on: El precio cambia según la temporada. = The price changes depending on the season.
- After según + person, use subject pronouns: según yo, según tú, según él.
- It can introduce a clause: Te ayudamos según lo que necesites.
- Keep the accent mark: it is según, not segun.
What Según Usually Means
Most of the time, según does one of two big jobs: it points to a source or it points to a condition. That is why it often becomes either “according to” or “depending on” in English.
1) According To
Use según when you are reporting information from a person, a source, or a thing.
- Según el mapa = according to the map
- Según Ana, la tienda abre a las nueve. = According to Ana, the store opens at nine.
- Según el reporte, va a llover. = According to the report, it is going to rain.
2) Depending On
Use según when something changes based on a condition, a situation, or a variable.
- El precio cambia según la temporada. = The price changes depending on the season.
- Vamos según el clima. = We’ll go depending on the weather.
- Te pagarán según lo que trabajes. = They’ll pay you according to how much you work.
A good shortcut is this: if según points to a voice, document, person, or source, think according to. If it points to a changing condition, think depending on. Your brain enjoys shortcuts. Let it have one.
The Pronoun Trap After Según
This is one of the most useful details to learn early: after según with a person, Spanish uses subject pronouns, not the pronouns you may expect after most prepositions.
| Meaning | Correct Spanish | Avoid This |
|---|---|---|
| according to me | según yo | según mí |
| according to you | según tú | según ti |
| according to him | según él | — |
| according to us | según nosotros | — |
| according to you all | según ustedes | — |
That is why these are natural:
- Según yo, la reunión es mañana. = According to me, the meeting is tomorrow.
- Según tú, nunca llego a tiempo. = According to you, I’m never on time.
- Según ellos, todo está listo. = According to them, everything is ready.
One extra nuance: según tú can sound a little pointed in conversation, almost like “according to you” or “so you say.” It is not automatically rude, but the tone can carry attitude if the speaker wants it to. Spanish is generous like that.
Yak Box: Tiny Rule, Big Payoff
If you remember only one “advanced” thing today, make it this one: según yo and según tú are correct. They look odd at first because Spanish loves keeping learners humble, but they are the forms you want.
Según With A Clause
Según does not have to stop at a noun. It can also introduce a whole idea. This is where learners start to see why one-word translations are a trap.
| Pattern | English Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| según lo que + verb | according to what / depending on what | Decidimos según lo que necesitemos. We decide according to what we need. |
| según + clause | as / just as / depending on | Hazlo según te dijeron. Do it as they told you. |
| según + open situation | depending on how things turn out | Según esté el tráfico, llegamos a las ocho o a las nueve. Depending on traffic, we’ll arrive at eight or nine. |
That last type is especially useful because it shows how según can point to an unresolved condition. In plain English, that usually becomes “depending on.”
- Según lo que diga el jefe, cambiamos el plan. = Depending on what the boss says, we’ll change the plan.
- Según te sientas mañana, decides si vas o no. = Depending on how you feel tomorrow, you decide whether you go or not.
- Todo quedó según lo dejaste. = Everything stayed just as you left it.
Useful Real-Life Phrases With Según
These are the kinds of expressions that show up in conversations, messages, and daily life. Learn them as chunks and you will sound much more natural much faster.
Según yo
English meaning: according to me, as far as I know
Example: Según yo, hoy no había tarea.
According to me, there was no homework today.
Según tú
English meaning: according to you, so you say
Example: Según tú, todo fue mi culpa.
According to you, everything was my fault.
Según parece
English meaning: apparently, it seems
Example: Según parece, el vuelo sale tarde.
Apparently, the flight leaves late.
Según dicen
English meaning: according to what people say, people say
Example: Según dicen, ese restaurante es buenísimo.
People say that restaurant is excellent.
Según se vea
English meaning: depending on how you see it
Example: No está caro; según se vea.
It’s not expensive; it depends how you look at it.
Según el pronóstico
English meaning: according to the forecast
Example: Según el pronóstico, mañana llueve.
According to the forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
How To Translate Según Naturally
- Source or opinion? Use according to.
Según Marta, ya empezó. = According to Marta, it already started. - Condition or variable? Use depending on.
El horario cambia según el día. = The schedule changes depending on the day. - Manner or similarity? Use as or just as.
Déjalo según estaba. = Leave it as it was.
This matters because translating every single según as “according to” makes your English stiff and your Spanish understanding fuzzy. Neither needs extra suffering.
Common Mistakes And Fast Fixes
- Saying según mí.
Use según yo. - Forgetting the accent mark.
Write según, not segun. - Translating it only one way.
Según can mean according to, depending on, as, or just as, depending on the sentence. - Missing the shade of tone in según tú.
It can be neutral, but it can also sound skeptical or mildly spicy. - Ignoring the whole clause after it.
In según lo que pase, the key meaning is not one word but the whole idea: depending on what happens.
Practice With Según
Try these before checking the answers. Tiny effort, big memory boost.
- Translate: “According to Laura, the class starts at ten.”
- Translate: “The menu changes depending on the season.”
- Translate: “According to you, what should we do?”
- Translate: “Do it as I explained.”
- Translate: “We’ll decide depending on what happens.”
Show Suggested Answers
- Según Laura, la clase empieza a las diez.
- El menú cambia según la temporada.
- Según tú, ¿qué debemos hacer?
- Hazlo según te expliqué.
- Decidiremos según lo que pase.
Quick Reference Summary
| Use | Spanish Pattern | Example | Natural English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | según + noun | Según el artículo… | according to the article |
| Opinion | según + yo/tú/él… | Según tú… | according to you |
| Condition | según + noun/clause | Según el clima… | depending on the weather |
| Manner | según + clause | Hazlo según te dijeron. | do it as they told you |
| Appearance or hearsay | según parece / según dicen | Según parece, sí. | apparently / people say |
Final Yak
Según looks small, but it is doing serious work: source, condition, opinion, and sometimes manner. Learn the core patterns, especially según yo and según lo que…, and this word stops feeling slippery. Then it becomes one of those lovely Spanish words that suddenly seems to be everywhere because, well, it kind of is.
