Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cheque pluvial | /t͡ʃeke plubjal/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| vale | /ˈbale/ | masculine |
In English, a "rain check" refers to an extension or postponement of an offer. In Spanish, while cheque pluvial is a literal translation of the English idiom, it is not actually used by native speakers to mean a postponement of an offer.
Which one should you use?
cheque pluvial is a word-for-word translation of the English idiom, but it does not carry the same idiomatic meaning in Spanish.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using cheque pluvial to mean you want to postpone an offer or an invitation, as native speakers will recognize it as a literal translation rather than a functional idiom. Instead, you might use a phrase like Lo dejamos para otro día to say "We'll leave it for another day" in informal settings.
Did you know?
- The word vale is used as a noun for a voucher, but it is also one of the most common fillers in Spain, used similarly to 'okay'.
- The Spanish word cheque is a linguistic doublet of jaque, the word used for 'check' or 'checkmate' in chess.
- Although it sounds like a formal voucher, the word vale comes from the verb valer, which means 'to be worth'.
Example sentences for Spanish are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Two friends are trying to schedule a movie date.
- MaríaAlejandro, ¿vamos al cine esta noche?Alejandro, shall we go to the cinema tonight?
- AlejandroTengo mucho trabajo, ¿me das un cheque pluvial?I have a lot of work, can I take a rain check?
- MaríaClaro, no hay problema.Sure, no problem.
- AlejandroGracias, María, hablamos mañana.Thanks, María, we'll talk tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rain check” translations and entries vale, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cheque, pluvial, vale, CC BY-SA 4.0.
