Parenthetical Expressions in Spanish

When we read texts in Spanish, it is very common to find extra phrases or words that are not part of the main sentence but add interesting information. These are parenthetical expressions.

Using them correctly makes the text more complete by allowing us to provide additional details without interrupting the main idea. In this article, we will explore what parenthetical expressions are, the types that exist, and how they are used in Spanish.

What are parenthetical expressions?

Parenthetical expressions are words or phrases that we add within a sentence to provide additional information or make a small comment without changing the main meaning of the sentence.

These expressions are separated using commas, parentheses, or dashes so that the reader can understand that they are not part of the main message but rather a complement. Examples of parenthetical expressions in Spanish:

• La fiesta, por cierto, fue muy divertida. (The party, by the way, was very fun.)
• Juan —un amigo de la universidad— me llamó ayer. (Juan —a friend from university— called me yesterday.)
• El viaje (aunque fue largo) valió la pena. (The trip (although it was long) was worth it.)
• El perro, que estaba cansado, se quedó dormido. (The dog, which was tired, fell asleep.)
• Este libro —lo recomiendo mucho— es excelente para aprender. (This book —I highly recommend it— is excellent for learning.)

These expressions help make a text more informative, offering details without interrupting the main sentence.

Table of Parenthetical Expressions

Types of Parenthetical Expressions

As mentioned, in Spanish we can use commas, parentheses, or dashes to create parenthetical expressions. Each has a slightly different style and purpose. Let’s explore each one.

Between Commas

We use commas to add brief information that clarifies or gives a detail without straying too far from the main sentence. It is the most common type of parenthetical expression. Examples of parenthetical expressions between commas:

• Ana, mi hermana, vendrá de visita. (Ana, my sister, will visit.)
• El gato, que es muy travieso, rompió el jarrón. (The cat, which is very mischievous, broke the vase.)
• La película, para ser sincero, no fue tan buena. (The movie, to be honest, was not that good.)
• Luis, como sabes, es muy puntual. (Luis, as you know, is very punctual.)
• El examen, a decir verdad, fue más fácil de lo que esperaba. (The exam, to tell the truth, was easier than I expected.)

Between Parentheses

Parentheses are used to include extra information or clarifications that, while useful, are not entirely essential for understanding the main sentence. Examples of parenthetical expressions between parentheses:

• Mi vecino (un hombre muy amable) me ayudó con la mudanza. (My neighbor (a very kind man) helped me with the move.)
• El examen (que fue complicado) duró tres horas. (The exam (which was complicated) lasted three hours.)
• Vamos al cine mañana (si no llueve). (We are going to the cinema tomorrow (if it doesn’t rain).)
• Ella es ingeniera (y también artista). (She is an engineer (and also an artist).)
• Carlos (mi primo) está de visita en casa. (Carlos (my cousin) is visiting at home.)

Between Dashes

Dashes can help us add information in a more prominent way, giving more emphasis to our clarification. Examples of parenthetical expressions between dashes:

• Marta —mi mejor amiga— se mudó a otra ciudad. (Marta —my best friend— moved to another city.)
• El perro —que estaba muy emocionado— saltó a la piscina. (The dog —who was very excited— jumped into the pool.)
• Juan —un experto en tecnología— nos explicó el problema. (Juan —a technology expert— explained the problem to us.)
• La cena —que preparó mi madre— estaba deliciosa. (The dinner —that my mother prepared— was delicious.)
• Este libro —mi favorito de todos— es fascinante. (This book —my favorite of all— is fascinating.)

In summary, each type of parenthetical expression has its own style. Using commas is more casual, while dashes tend to give more emphasis, and parentheses contain secondary information.

Uses of Parenthetical Expressions

Parenthetical expressions have several specific uses in Spanish. Let’s look at the main ones:

For Clarifications

They add important details that clarify something and provide a bit more context in the sentence. Examples of using parenthetical expressions for clarifications:

• Ese coche, que es un modelo de 2022, es muy rápido. (That car, which is a 2022 model, is very fast.)
• Luis, mi vecino de al lado, también viene a la fiesta. (Luis, my neighbor next door, is also coming to the party.)
• El libro (una edición limitada) es difícil de conseguir. (The book (a limited edition) is hard to find.)
• María —quien siempre llega temprano— fue la primera en llegar. (María —who always arrives early— was the first to arrive.)
• Mis padres, por cierto, están de vacaciones. (My parents, by the way, are on vacation.)

For Additional Comments

They add opinions or comments that give a personal touch to our sentences. Examples of using parenthetical expressions for additional comments:

• La comida, a decir verdad, estaba deliciosa. (The food, to tell the truth, was delicious.)
• Ese lugar (en mi opinión) es muy tranquilo. (That place (in my opinion) is very quiet.)
• La reunión —por suerte— terminó temprano. (The meeting —luckily— ended early.)
• La película, sorprendentemente, fue muy buena. (The movie, surprisingly, was very good.)
• El viaje, para ser honesto, fue agotador. (The trip, to be honest, was exhausting.)

For Corrections or Precisions

They serve to clarify something within the sentence or correct some information. Examples of using parenthetical expressions for corrections or precisions:

• Ella —si no me equivoco— vive en París. (She —if I’m not mistaken— lives in Paris.)
• El evento será el martes a las 3 de la tarde (creo). (The event will be on Tuesday at 3 PM (I think).)
• Juan, si recuerdo bien, trabaja en esa empresa. (Juan, if I remember correctly, works at that company.)
• Ese parque (el nuevo, no el viejo) está cerrado. (That park (the new one, not the old one) is closed.)
• El café —que estaba muy caliente— se enfrió rápido. (The coffee —which was very hot— cooled down quickly.)
• Basically, parenthetical expressions allow us to add or correct information without making the sentence too long or confusing.

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Differences Between Parenthetical Expressions and Other Punctuation Marks

Parenthetical expressions may look a bit like other punctuation marks that we also use in Spanish, but they have very specific functions that differentiate them from others. Let’s review them now.

Commas Without Parenthetical Function

Commas are also used in lists or to separate parts of the sentence, not just to create parenthetical expressions. Examples of commas without parenthetical function:

• Compré manzanas, peras y naranjas. (I bought apples, pears, and oranges.) (list)
• Voy a casa, me cambio, y luego salgo. (I go home, change, and then leave.) (separate sentences)
• El sol brilla, pero hace frío. (The sun shines, but it is cold.) (related sentences)
• Fui a Madrid, España, de vacaciones. (I went to Madrid, Spain, on vacation.) (geographical pause)
• Llueve, así que llevaré paraguas. (It’s raining, so I’ll take an umbrella.) (causal relationship)

Parentheses in Other Contexts

Parentheses are also used to frame specific data, such as acronyms, clarifications in mathematics, or enumerations. Examples of parentheses in other contexts:

• La ONU (Organización de las Naciones Unidas) es importante. (The UN (United Nations Organization) is important.)
• El área es 3.14 (π) por el radio al cuadrado. (The area is 3.14 (π) times the radius squared.)
• Vea la página 10 (sección B) para más detalles. (See page 10 (section B) for more details.)
• Las opciones son (a) sí, (b) no, y (c) tal vez. (The options are (a) yes, (b) no, and (c) maybe.)
• Los Ángeles está en el estado de California (CA). (Los Angeles is in the state of California (CA).)

Dashes in Other Contexts

Dashes are also used to form compound words or to separate syllables in academic texts. Examples of dashes in other contexts:

• La sala-comedor es perfecta para las reuniones familiares. (The living-dining room is perfect for family gatherings.) (compound word)
• La relación calidad-precio es excelente. (The quality-price relationship is excellent.) (relation of concepts)
• Mañana es el día D - decisivo. (Tomorrow is D-day - decisive.) (highlight a word)
• Dividimos la palabra en sí-la-bas. (We divide the word into syl-la-bles.) (syllable separation)
• La empresa es internacional - con sucursales en todo el mundo. (The company is international - with branches all over the world.) (emphasis)

Common Mistakes When Using Parenthetical Expressions

It is easy to make some mistakes when using parenthetical expressions. Below, we will look at some of the most common mistakes and how to correct them.

Excessive Use of Parenthetical Expressions

Using too many parenthetical expressions can make the sentence confusing. 
Incorrect: Mi hermana —la mayor, que estudia medicina— vino de visita. (My sister —the oldest, who studies medicine— came to visit.) 
Correct: Mi hermana mayor, que estudia medicina, vino de visita. (My older sister, who studies medicine, came to visit.)

Confusion with Other Punctuation Marks

Sometimes, we misuse commas, parentheses, or dashes. Review the rules we covered above to avoid this. 
Incorrect: Ella (mi amiga) vino hoy, y comimos juntos. (She (my friend) came today, and we ate together.) 
Correct: Ella, mi amiga, vino hoy y comimos juntos. (She, my friend, came today and we ate together.)

Errors in Closing Expressions

It is very common to forget to close a parenthetical expression, but it is important to do so because otherwise, we can confuse our reader. 
Incorrect: La casa (pintada de blanco es muy bonita. (The house (painted white is very pretty.) 
Correct: La casa (pintada de blanco) es muy bonita. (The house (painted white) is very pretty.)

Parenthetical expressions should be used sparingly so that the text is clear and not overloaded.

Summary

Parenthetical expressions in Spanish allow us to add additional information without interrupting the flow of the main sentence. Using them correctly helps you provide more details and communicate clearly.

Practice incorporating them gradually into your writing, and you will see how your texts become richer. Remember that through the Promova app, you can also find texts where you can continue observing the use of parenthetical expressions until you master their use completely. 

We look forward to seeing you in our next lesson!