Using the Spanish Word Todo

Todo is a common Spanish adjective and pronoun that typically means all or every. Like most other adjectives, todo must match the noun it refers to in number and gender; when used as a pronoun, it also changes with number and gender according to the noun it replaces. Using Todo As an Adjective As an adjective, todo can come either directly before the noun or frequently before the definite article that comes before a noun. In this usage, todo is typically the equivalent of the English all before a plural noun and every before a singular noun. Vamos a tomar todas las medidas apropiadas para eliminar la discriminacià ³n. (We are going to take all appropriate means to eliminate discrimination.)Tenemos zapatos de todos tipos y colores. (We have shoes of all types and colors.)Todo el tiempo estoy pensando en ti. (I am thinking about you all the time.)Todas las personas son iguales, pero unas son mà ¡s iguales que otras. (All persons are equal, but some are more equal than others.)Hawà ¡i es el estado con mayor porcentaje de gente asià ¡tica de todo Estados Unidos. (Hawaii is the state with the highest percentage of Asian people in all of the United States.)El papa ha afirmado que toda persona tiene derecho a emigrar. (The pope has stated that each person has the right to emigrate.) Using Todo As a Pronoun As a pronoun, todo and its variations typically have the meaning of all, although the context can require other translations: Todo es posible. (Everything is possible.)Todos fueron a la playa. (They all went to the beach. Or, everyone went to the beach.)Todas estamos bajo mucha presià ³n. (All of us are under a lot of pressure.)Todo puede cambiar de un segundo. (Everything can change in a second.)Todo està ¡ bien. (All is well.)No todos quieren hacer negocio en Internet. (Not everyone wants to do business on the Internet.)A pesar de todo tenemos algo que festejar. (Despite everything, we have something to celebrate.) MiscellaneousUses for Todo Sometimes, todo can be used to add emphasis: El corazà ³n latà ­a a toda velocidad cuando te vi. (My heart was beating at a high speed when I saw you.)Te lo mostramos con todo detalle. (Were showing it to you in great detail.)Visitar Manzanillo es toda una aventura. (Visiting Manzanillo is quite an adventure.) Todo and its variations are used in various phrases and idioms: ante todo — primarily, principally, above everythinga pesar de todo — in spite of everythingasà ­ y todo — nevertheless, in spite of everythinga todo color — in full colora todo meter — at full speed, at full forcea todo pulmà ³n — with all ones might (a pulmà ³n is a lung)casi todo — almost everythingcon todo — nevertheless, in spite of everythingdel todo — entirely, without exceptionde todas todas — with absolute certaintyde todo en todo — absolutelyen todo y por todo — under all circumstancespor todo, por todas — in totalsobre todo — primarily, principally, above everythingtodo el mundo — everyone Using Todo With a Plural Form of Ser It is common in Spanish for a sentence of the form todo conjugated ser plural predicate to use a plural form of ser. The phenomenon, which contrasts with English usage, can be seen in these examples: No todo son millonarios en el bà ©isbol profesional. (Not everyone is a millionaire in professional baseball.)Todo son problemas. (Everything is a problem.)Todo son buenas noticias. (Its all good news.)Todo eran mentiras. (It was all lies.)