no se me

I can't seem to

→ no

phrase Common #5,887

I can't seem to This clitic combination is used with certain verbs to express that something does not come to mind, happen, or come easily to the speaker. Its exact translation depends on the verb: no se me ocurre means “I can't think of” or “it doesn't occur to me,” while no se me da bien means “I'm not good at.”

SP: No se me ocurre ninguna otra solución.

EN: I can't think of any other solution.

La verdad no se me ocurren otras ruinas.

To be honest, I can't think of any other ruins.

— Suzume (2022)

La fiebre no se me va.

My fever won't go away.

No se me pudo ocurrir cómo hacerlo.

I couldn't think of how to do it.

No se me cruzó por la cabeza.

It never crossed my mind.

A mí no se me engaña fácilmente.

I’m not easily fooled.

No se me ocurría nada que decir.

I couldn't think of anything to say.

— El cartero (y Pablo Neruda) (1994)

No se me recuerdo.

I don't remember.

— Relatos salvajes (2014)

No te preocupes, no se me va a ir sin una lucha.

Don't worry, I'm not going to leave without a fight.

— Atrápame si puedes (2002)

Menos mal que no se me ha caído.

Thank goodness I didn’t drop it.

No se me había pasado por la cabeza.

It hadn't crossed my mind.

No se me permitía decir nada.

I wasn’t allowed to say anything.

Hace tres días que tengo dolor de cabeza y no se me va.

I've had a headache for three days, and it won't go away.

Es cierto, no se me había ocurrido.

That's right, I hadn't thought of that.

— Deseando amar (2000)

No se me quita.

It won't go away.

— The Dreadful (2026)

Quizás no se me den los caballos, pero nací para hacer esto.

Maybe I'm not good with horses, but I was born to do this.

— Avatar (2009)

No se me había ocurrido.

It hadn't occurred to me.

— La gran enfermedad del amor (2017)

No lo ponga en duda, no se me escapará.

Make no mistake, he won't get away from me.

— Roma. Ciudad abierta (1945)

Este dolor de cabeza no se me va.

This headache won't go away.

A mí no se me ha perdido.

I haven't lost it.

No se me va una.

I don't miss a thing.

— GOAT: Como cabras (2026)