Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| vale | /ˈbale/ |
| de acuerdo | /de aˈkweɾdo/ |
| bien | /ˈbjen/ |
| bueno | /ˈbweno/ |
| ya | /ˈʝa/ |
| OK | /ˌoˈkei/ /ˌouˈkei/ |
These terms are used to express acknowledgement or acceptance. While some forms act as direct replacements for 'ok', others have specific nuances: ya can be used as an acknowledgement to mean 'I understand' or 'I see' in response to new information. bien is often used to describe a state of being or to say that something is 'fine' or 'well'. And claro is used to confirm or agree casually, similar to 'of course' or 'sure'. Additionally, listo means 'ready' and is used in casual conversations to indicate agreement or completion.
Which one should you use?
De acuerdo is more formal and implies a specific agreement to a proposal or plan compared to the more casual vale or ok. While 'ok' can be an acknowledgement, bien is often used to describe a state of being or to say that something is 'fine' or 'well'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Vale is primarily used in informal, everyday spoken conversation. For formal situations, you can use de acuerdo, aceptado to convey agreement or acceptance in formal contexts or entendido to acknowledge understanding in a formal manner. The English-derived OK is also available.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word vale is the most common way to say 'ok' in Spain. In Mexico, órale is a colloquial expression used among friends to mean 'OK'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
vale is pronounced /ˈbale/
Did you know?
- While vale is the go-to word for 'ok' in Spain, using it in parts of Latin America can be confusing because it is more commonly associated with a 'voucher' or 'coupon'.
- The Mexican expression órale can be used to say 'ok', but it can also express surprise or even a command depending entirely on your tone.
- The common Spanish word vale for 'ok' shares its roots with the Latin word valē, which was used as a command to say 'be well' or 'farewell'.
Examples in context
- OK, yo los pido.OK, I'll order them.This sentence shows the use of OK for ordering.Tatoeba #4508158 by emanuel81, translation #4506755 by raggione
- ¿Vas a estar bien?Are you going to be OK?This sentence uses bien to ask about a state of being.Tatoeba #1233187 by marcelostockle, translation #953102 by CK
- Todo va a ir bien.It's all going to be OK.This sentence uses bien to describe a future state.Tatoeba #1574820 by Shishir, translation #954068 by CK
- Está bien, de acuerdoIt's fine, OK.
- Tu propuesta ha sido aceptadaYour proposal has been accepted.
- Entendido, procederemos según sus indicacionesUnderstood, we will proceed as per your instructions.
- Vale, nos vemos despuésOK, see you later.
- Claro, no hay problemaSure, no problem.
- Listo, podemos seguir adelanteOK, we can move forward.
- 197 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are finishing a phone call about a meeting.
- DanielNos vemos en la oficina a las diez.I will see you at the office at ten.
- MaríaVale, allí estaré.OK, I will be there.
- Daniel¿Traes los documentos?Are you bringing the documents?
- MaríaSí, los tengo conmigo.Yes, I have them with me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ok” translations and entries vale, de acuerdo, bien, bueno, ya, OK, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries acuerdo, bien, de, de acuerdo, vale, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
