Which one should you use?
While vale, gracias is a common way to express this, you may also use está bien, gracias or ok, gracias in informal settings. For a more formal tone, you can use De acuerdo, gracias or Entendido, gracias, which specifically means "understood, thank you" and is used to acknowledge instructions or information.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Vale, gracias is a casual expression used in everyday conversation. In contrast, De acuerdo, gracias and Entendido, gracias are formal ways to say "okay thanks" or "understood, thank you". Informal alternatives include Está bien, gracias and Ok, gracias.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The use of vale to mean "okay" is characteristic of Spanish from Spain. In many Latin American countries, está bien or ok is more common than vale for expressing "okay".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈbale ˈɡɾaθjas/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- Beyond meaning 'okay', a vale is the Spanish word for a voucher or a gift certificate.
- In Spain, the word vale is so ubiquitous that it can function as a verbal comma, being used to punctuate almost every single sentence in a casual conversation.
- The word vale in the phrase vale, gracias originates from the Latin command valē, which was a way to wish someone 'be well' or 'farewell'.
Examples in context
- Vale, gracias por el aviso.Okay, thanks for the notice.
- Vale, gracias por avisarme.Okay, thanks for letting me know.
- Vale, gracias, nos vemos luego.Okay, thanks, see you later.
Example conversation
Lucía tells Alejandro the time of their meeting.
- LucíaLa cita es a las cinco.The appointment is at five.
- AlejandroVale, gracias, Lucía.Okay, thanks, Lucía.
- LucíaTe espero allí.I'll wait for you there.
- AlejandroPerfecto, hasta entonces.Perfect, see you then.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (vale, gracias) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gracias, vale, CC BY-SA 4.0.
