phrase

que sera sera

kay se-RAH se-RAH

Que sera sera (phrase) means Whatever will be, will be — said to express calm acceptance that the future cannot be controlled and there is no use worrying about it. Example: “I've done everything I can for the interview, so que sera sera.”

phrase

informal Whatever will be, will be — said to express calm acceptance that the future cannot be controlled and there is no use worrying about it.

"I've done everything I can for the interview, so que sera sera."

"He shrugged at the diagnosis and said, que sera sera."

How to Use Que sera sera

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWhatever happens, happens — no point worrying.

When to use it

Informal and slightly old-fashioned, often affectionate.

Memory tip

Use it about the future; use "c'est la vie" about something already done.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

c'est la vie it is what it is → fait accompli

Common pairings

well, que sera sera attitude of que sera sera

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Etymology

A fatalistic tag in Romance-language form, meaning 'what will be, will be'; it is not grammatical modern Spanish, Italian or French. It circulated in English as a motto well before the 1956 song 'Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)', which made it a household phrase.

Origin: Romance

Synonyms

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whatever will be, will be what will be, will be c'est la vie it is what it is

Related Words

c'est la vie it is what it is

Rhymes for que sera sera

era vera Hera Sera Pera opera Kiera camera Rivera Valera cholera riviera

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is "que sera sera" Spanish, Italian or French?

None of them properly. The wording does not follow the grammar of any of the three modern languages — Spanish would be "lo que será, será" — which is why it is best treated as an English phrase of Romance appearance rather than a borrowing.

How do you spell it — que sera sera or qué será será?

In English the accents are usually dropped and no comma is required: que sera sera. Adding Spanish accents implies it is standard Spanish, which it is not.

What is the difference between "que sera sera" and "c'est la vie"?

"Que sera sera" looks forward: the future will unfold as it will, so stop worrying. "C'est la vie" looks back at something that has already gone wrong and shrugs it off as part of life.

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