Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| de acuerdo | /de aˈkweɾdo/ |
| vale | /ˈbale/ |
| bien | /ˈbjen/ |
| bueno | /ˈbweno/ |
| ya | /ˈʝa/ |
| OK | /ˌoˈkei/ /ˌouˈkei/ |
The various forms of 'ok' in Spanish are used to express acknowledgement, acceptance or agreement. Some words like bueno act as fillers to transition between topics, similar to starting a sentence with 'Well…' or 'Alright…'. Other forms, such as ya, are used specifically as an acknowledgement to show that you have understood or processed information, much like saying 'I see' or 'I get it'.
Which one should you use?
While bien can mean 'ok' in the sense of being 'all right', it is primarily an adverb meaning 'well' and is less common as a standalone conversational 'ok' than vale or de acuerdo. In contrast, ya is specifically used to signal that you have understood something.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
De acuerdo is a more formal and precise way to express agreement or consent, particularly in Colombia where it translates to 'agreed'. For more casual interactions, you can use vale, claro or listo. Claro is an informal term meaning 'clear', 'of course' or 'ok'. Listo is an informal word that can mean 'OK', 'ready' or 'done'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, vale is the most common way to say 'ok'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/de aˈkweɾdo/
Did you know?
- The phrase de acuerdo shares a deep ancestral root with the Latin word cor, meaning 'heart', suggesting that agreement comes from the heart.
- While listo means 'ok' or 'done' in many contexts, in some countries it can also mean a person is 'clever' or 'sharp'.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, saying vale too many times in a single conversation can sound like a verbal tic, similar to how some English speakers overuse 'like'.
Examples in context
- OK, yo los pido.OK, I'll order them.This sentence shows how to use OK to express an intention to order something.Tatoeba #4508158 by emanuel81, translation #4506755 by raggione
- ¿Vas a estar bien?Are you going to be OK?This sentence demonstrates using bien to ask about someone's well-being.Tatoeba #1233187 by marcelostockle, translation #953102 by CK
- Todo va a ir bien.It's all going to be OK.This sentence shows bien being used to express that things will go well.Tatoeba #1574820 by Shishir, translation #954068 by CK
- Está bien, de acuerdoOkay, agreed.
- Estoy de acuerdo, muy bienI agree, very well.
- ¿Podemos encontrarnos a las 7 p.m.? ClaroCan we meet at 7 p.m.? OK.
- ¿Terminamos el proyecto mañana? DaleCan we finish the project tomorrow? OK.
- ¿Vamos a bailar hoy en la noche? ValeShall we go dancing tonight? OK.
- 197 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are planning a meeting time.
- Lucía¿Nos vemos a las seis, Mateo?Shall we see each other at six, Mateo?
- MateoDe acuerdo, Lucía.OK, Lucía.
- LucíaTe envío la dirección por mensaje.I'll send you the address by message.
- MateoPerfecto, quedamos así.Perfect, it's a deal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ok” translations and entries de acuerdo, vale, 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.
