válgame Dios

Spanish

Etymology

Valga in this context may be an archaism, inherited from an earlier expression in Spanish back when the language still retained some of the many meanings of Latin valere (“to be worth”), one of its meanings being "to be well, to be healthy". Spanish valer (“to be worth”) comes from that word. If so, the expression means "may God give me health" or "may God let me be healthy".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌbalɡame ˈdjos/ [ˌbal.ɣ̞a.me ˈð̞jos]
• Syllabification: vál‧ga‧me Dios

Interjection

válgame Dios

1. dear God! good heavens!
   • 2003, Congreso Internacional Comida y Literatura, En gustos se comen géneros, 426:

     ¡Válgame Dios! ¿El libre se come? ¿Quién podrá tragarse un tomo entero? ¿Que libre es este? ¿Que ha de ser?

     Dear God! You can eat the book? Who would be able to eat an entire volume? What book is this? What is it?

   ¡Válgame Dios! ¿De dónde sacaste tanto dinero?

   Dear God! Where did you get this much money?

   ¡Válgame Dios! ¿Es este tu apartamento? ¡Está tan desordenado!

   Good heavens! Is this your apartment? It's so messy!

Further reading

• “válgame, o válgate, Dios”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014