Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| por supuesto | /poɾ suˈpwesto/ |
| claro | /ˈklaɾo/ |
| cómo no | /ˌkomo ˈno/ |
These phrases are used to indicate enthusiastic agreement or to mean "naturally".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase por supuesto is built from por (by/for) and supuesto (supposed/assumed), literally meaning "by assumption".
Which one should you use?
Por supuesto is a complete, emphatic phrase. In contrast, claro is often used as a standalone interjection to mean "of course" or "sure".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Por supuesto is a formal way to convey agreement and is slightly more formal than claro que sí. Claro is more casual and common in everyday conversation than the more emphatic por supuesto.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using claro to mean "of course" in an affirmative sense, it is very common to add que sí to the phrase (as in claro que sí) to reinforce the agreement.
How do you pronounce it?
/poɾ suˈpwesto/
When do people say it?
Cómo no is a common way to express enthusiastic agreement, often used specifically when someone asks for a favor or permission.
Did you know?
- The word claro is a linguistic rarity because it preserves the Latin 'cl-' sound. In most other Spanish words, this sound evolved into 'll', making claro an exception to the usual rules of language evolution.
- While 'claro' usually means 'clear', its use as 'of course' stems from the Latin 'clārus', which originally described something bright or shining.
- While claro and por supuesto are interchangeable in meaning, using cómo no specifically when someone asks for a favor shows a higher level of willingness to serve than a simple 'yes'.
Examples in context
- Claro que lo sabe.Of course he knows.This sentence shows how to use claro to affirm knowledge.Tatoeba #8448317 by arh, translation #8469711 by shekitten
- Por supuesto que no.Of course not.This sentence shows how to use por supuesto to express a strong negative.Tatoeba #7938275 by Seael, translation #7938269 by Seael
- ¡Por supuesto que sí!Of course yes!This sentence shows how to use por supuesto to express strong affirmative agreement.Tatoeba #4712519 by DarkHollow, translation #4708061 by adamtrousers
- ¿Puedo utilizar su teléfono? – Por supuesto, adelante.Can I use your phone? – Of course, go ahead.
- ¿Quieres ir al cine esta noche? – ¡Por supuesto que sí!Do you want to go to the movies tonight? – Of course, I do!
- ¿Vas a la fiesta de Ana? – ¡Claro que sí, no me la puedo perder!Are you going to Ana's party? – Of course, I can't miss it!
- ¿Crees que ganaremos el partido de fútbol? – Sin duda alguna, nuestro equipo es el mejor.Do you think we will win the soccer match? – Of course, without a doubt, our team is the best.
- 121 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a friend's birthday party.
- María¿Me ayudas con el pastel, Mateo?Will you help me with the cake, Mateo?
- Mateo¡Por supuesto, María!Of course, Maria!
- María¿Trajiste las velas?Did you bring the candles?
- MateoSí, las tengo aquí.Yes, I have them here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “of course” translations and entries por supuesto, claro, cómo no, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries claro, cómo, cómo no, no, por, supuesto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
