Spanish Phrase
Mi computadora está rota. ¿Quién me la arregla?
Meaning
This phrase is used to express that your computer is not working and you are looking for someone to repair it. It combines a statement about the computer's condition with a question asking for help. The 'me la' part is a key element, indicating 'it for me'.
When to use
You would use this phrase when your computer is malfunctioning and you need assistance. This could be when talking to a friend, family member, or a technician to explain your problem and inquire about repair services. It's a direct and common way to ask for help with a broken device.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Micomputadoraestárota.¿Quiénmelaarregla?
Estar (está)
'Estar' is used to describe temporary states, conditions, or locations. Here, 'está rota' means 'it is broken,' indicating a current state.
Rota
'Rota' is the past participle of 'romper' (to break) and functions as an adjective here, agreeing in gender and number with 'computadora' (feminine singular).
Me la
'Me la' is a combination of an indirect object pronoun ('me' - for me) and a direct object pronoun ('la' - it, referring to 'computadora'). The indirect object pronoun always precedes the direct object pronoun.
¿Quién...?
¿Quién?' means 'Who?' and is used to ask about a person. It's followed by the verb conjugated in the third person singular.
🗨In Conversation
¡Ay, no! Mi computadora está rota. ¿Quién me la arregla?
Oh, no! My computer is broken. Who will fix it for me?
Uhm, creo que mi primo sabe mucho de eso. Te puedo dar su número.
Uhm, I think my cousin knows a lot about that. I can give you his number.
✕Common Mistakes
Mi computadora es rota.
Use 'estar' for temporary states or conditions like being broken, not 'ser' which is for inherent qualities.
¿Quién arregla mi computadora?
Omitting the object pronoun 'la' makes the sentence less natural, and 'me' is needed to specify 'for me'.
¿Quién me arregla?
This implies 'Who fixes me?' instead of 'Who fixes it for me?'. The direct object pronoun 'la' (referring to 'computadora') is missing.
↔Alternatives
Mi computadora no funciona. ¿Puedes ayudarme?
My computer isn't working. Can you help me?
Necesito que alguien repare mi computadora.
I need someone to repair my computer.
¿Sabes quién arregla computadoras?
Do you know who fixes computers?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking for help from friends, family, or even neighbors for minor repairs is common before resorting to professional services. The use of 'me la' (for me) emphasizes this personal request for assistance. It's also common to be quite direct when stating a problem and asking for a solution.