me parece bien
/me paɾeθe bjen/from spelling rules
The English phrase "works for me" can be translated into Spanish as me parece bien.
The phrase is used to show that a suggestion or plan is acceptable to the speaker. While English speakers use the verb "to work" to express suitability, Spanish speakers use the verb parecer (to seem) to express that a plan is acceptable.
Which one should you use?
While me parece bien expresses general acceptance, me viene bien is a common alternative used specifically to emphasize that a particular time or arrangement is convenient.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you may hear the colloquial expression me cuadra to express agreement. In Mexico, the slang expression me late is used to indicate that something works or appeals to you.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase me parece bien, the verb parece must be in the third-person singular form because the implied subject is the suggestion or plan itself.
Did you know?
- The Mexican slang me late literally means 'it beats me', referring to the beating of a heart to show that a plan feels right.
- The colloquial expression me cuadra, used in Spain to mean a plan works, literally translates to 'it squares with me'.
- The word bien comes from the Latin bene, which is also the root of the English word 'beneficial'.
Examples in context
- ¿Podemos organizar la reunión para el viernes? Claro, me parece bien.Can we schedule the meeting for Friday? Sure, works for me.
- ¿Te parece si nos reunimos a las 9 de la mañana? Estoy de acuerdo, me parece bien.What do you think if we meet at 9 in the morning? I agree, works for me.
- ¿Quedamos a las 8 en la cafetería? Vale, me cuadra.Shall we meet at 8 at the café? Okay, works for me.
- ¿Te viene bien el jueves a las tres?Does Thursday at three work for you?
- Si quieres ir al cine mañana, me parece bien.If you want to go to the cinema tomorrow, that works for me.
- A las seis de la tarde me parece bien.Six in the evening works for me.
- Comer pizza en casa me parece bien.Eating pizza at home works for me.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are deciding on a time to meet.
- Elena¿Nos vemos en la cafetería a las cuatro?Shall we meet at the cafe at four?
- JavierSí, me parece bien.Yes, that works for me.
- ElenaPerfecto, te veo allí entonces.Perfect, I will see you there then.
- JavierHasta luego, Elena.See you later, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
