Spanish Phrase
No me puedo quejar, ¿y tú?
Meaning
The speaker is saying that they have no complaints or problems, and then invites the listener to share their own situation. It’s a friendly, modest way to keep the conversation flowing.
When to use
Use this phrase after someone asks how you’re doing, after a brief update about your day, or when you want to show humility while still encouraging the other person to talk about themselves.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nomepuedoquejar,¿ytú?
Negación con No
‘No’ placed before the verb negates the whole clause.
Pronombre reflexivo me
‘me’ indicates that the action of the verb reflects back on the subject (quejarse = to complain).
Poder + infinitivo
‘puedo’ (I can) is followed by an infinitive verb to express ability.
Quejar (se) – verbo pronominal
‘quejar’ is used with a reflexive pronoun; the full form is ‘quejarse’.
¿y tú? – pregunta de contraste
‘¿y tú?’ asks the interlocutor for their opinion, mirroring the previous statement.
🗨In Conversation
¿Cómo te ha ido en el trabajo esta semana?
How has work been for you this week?
No me puedo quejar, ¿y tú?
I can’t complain, how about you?
✕Common Mistakes
No puedo quejar.
The verb ‘quejar’ is pronominal; you need the reflexive pronoun (me) or use the full form ‘quejarse’.
No me puedo quejar, ¿y usted?
When speaking formally, use ‘¿y usted?’ instead of ‘¿y tú?’
No me quejo puedo, ¿y tú?
The correct order is ‘puedo me quejar’ → ‘me puedo quejar’; swapping the pronoun and verb creates an ungrammatical phrase.
↔Alternatives
No tengo quejas, ¿y tú?
I have no complaints, how about you?
Todo bien, ¿y tú?
All good, and you?
No hay de qué quejarme, ¿y tú?
There’s nothing for me to complain about, and you?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking cultures modesty is valued, so saying ‘No me puedo quejar’ is a polite way to acknowledge that things are fine without sounding boastful. When speaking with someone you don’t know well or in a formal setting, replace ‘¿y tú?’ with ‘¿y usted?’ to keep the register appropriate.