¿es correcto?
The Spanish phrase for "is this correct?" is ¿es correcto?
Which one should you use?
If you are demonstrating a physical action or a specific way of doing something, ¿es así? is a more natural way to ask "is this how it's done?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the verb ser (es) because it refers to the inherent correctness or nature of the thing being discussed.
Did you know?
- If you use ¿es correcto? to ask if a person's behavior is acceptable, it can sound like you are questioning their moral integrity rather than their accuracy.
- The word correcto is a direct descendant of the Latin correctus, which literally means 'straightened' or 'drawn together'.
- While ¿es correcto? is perfectly understandable, a Spanish speaker is much more likely to ask ¿está bien? when checking if an answer or a task is right.
Examples in context
- He escrito esto, ¿es correcto?I have written this, is it correct?
- Si escribo así, ¿es correcto?If I write like this, is it correct?
Example conversation
Lucia is showing Alejandro a sentence she wrote in Spanish.
- LucíaMira mi frase. ¿Es correcto?Look at my sentence. Is this correct?
- AlejandroCasi, pero falta una letra.Almost, but a letter is missing.
- LucíaAhora lo cambié. ¿Es correcto?Now I changed it. Is this correct?
- Alejandro¡Sí, ahora está perfecto!Yes, now it is perfect!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries correcto, es, CC BY-SA 4.0.
