¡Claro!
everyday
In Mexico "of course" is ¡Claro! in everyday talk and ¡Por supuesto! in more polite speech. A very Mexican polite answer is ¡Cómo no!, which agrees warmly with a request.
Meaning: yes, certainly (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| ¡Claro! | everyday |
| ¡Por supuesto! | polite |
| ¡Cómo no! | Mexico, polite |
¿Me ayuda? ¡Cómo no! means "can you help me?" "of course!" Claro que sí is the fuller form and sounds friendly and emphatic.
Which one should you use?
The literal sense of cómo no is "why not", so it works as a gracious yes. Claro que no means "of course not".
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful with claro alone in replies to a negative question, because claro agrees with what was said.
Did you know?
- In Mexico cómo no is often used by shopkeepers and hosts as a courteous way to say yes.
Examples in context
- ¿Me puedes ayudar? ¡Claro!Can you help me? Of course!
- ¿Me presta su pluma? ¡Cómo no!May I borrow your pen? Of course!
- ¡Por supuesto que sí!Of course!
Example conversation
Elena asks the hotel receptionist Marco for a late checkout in Mazatlán.
- Elena¿Podría salir a las dos de la tarde?Could I leave at two in the afternoon?
- Marco¡Claro que sí!Of course!
- ElenaMuchas gracias.Thank you very much.
