sí, acepto
The English phrase "I do" is translated into Spanish as sí, acepto in the context of wedding vows.
This phrase is used specifically during the formal wedding ceremony to signify consent to marriage.
Meaning: traditional phrase said upon acceptance of marriage (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "yes, I accept".
Did you know?
- The word sí in the phrase 'yes' shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'so', as both stem from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'thus' or 'in such a manner'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the verbal consent of sí, acepto is often accompanied by the ritual of 'las arras', the exchange of thirteen gold coins.
- While sí, acepto is the formal standard, some couples in Spain may use the more casual sí, quiero, which literally means 'yes, I want to'.
Examples in context
- Ella dijo: «Sí, acepto».She said, "I do."
Example conversation
A wedding ceremony in a church.
- Alejandro¿Aceptas a María como tu esposa?Do you take María to be your wife?
- MaríaSí, acepto.I do.
- AlejandroY tú, María, ¿aceptas a Alejandro?And you, María, do you take Alejandro?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I do” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
