De todas todas
Of all all.
definitely; **definitely**; **absolutely**; **without a doubt**; **for sure**; **in any case**; **come what may**; **by all means**
De todas todas is used to express absolute certainty or emphasis. Depending on context, it can mean:
De todas todas, voy a ir.
I'm definitely going.
Eso es de todas todas.
That's absolutely certain.
De todas todas, mañana hablamos.
We'll definitely talk tomorrow.
Si no viene él, de todas todas iremos nosotros.
Even if he doesn't come, we'll go anyway.
Es, de todas todas, la mejor opción.
It is, without a doubt, the best option.
- definitely
- without a doubt
- in any case
- come what may
- by all means
It is often used to reinforce an assertion or decision.
A particularly common construction is:
De todas todas, lo haré.
→ I'm definitely going to do it.
- emphasise certainty
- reinforce a conclusion
- insist that something is definitely the case
- confirm a decision
- say that something will happen whatever the circumstances
The expression is based on the repetition of todas, which intensifies the statement.
The construction can be understood as an emphatic version of an idea such as "de todas las maneras" or "en cualquier caso".
The repetition gives the expression its characteristic force: whatever possibilities are considered, the conclusion remains the same.
The meaning of de todas todas depends considerably on the sentence in which it appears.
Absolute certainty
Eso es de todas todas.
→ That's absolutely certain.
Whatever happens
De todas todas, iremos.
→ We'll go anyway / We'll definitely go.
Emphatic qualification
Es de todas todas una mala idea.
→ It's definitely a bad idea.
Because the expression is colloquial and context-dependent, the English translation should be adapted rather than translated literally.
The repetition in de todas todas is an example of a common Spanish strategy for intensifying an expression through repetition.
Compare:
- De todas todas → definitely / absolutely.
- Sí o sí → one way or another / absolutely.
- Pase lo que pase → whatever happens.
- Cueste lo que cueste → whatever it takes.
These expressions add emphasis by making the speaker's determination or certainty particularly explicit.
Do not translate:
De todas todas.
as:
Of all all.
Natural translations include:
Definitely.
Absolutely.
Without a doubt.
In any case.
The correct translation depends on what the speaker is emphasising.
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