dale
/DAH-leh/
Go for it!
Use 'dale' to encourage someone or urge them to start: 'Go for it!' or 'Come on!' (¡Sí, dale!)
dale(Interjection)
Go for it!
?Encouragement
,Come on!
?Urging someone on
,Let's do it!
?Starting an activity
Go ahead
?Giving permission
,Hit it!
?Cue to start something, like music
📝 In Action
¿Debería llamarla? —¡Sí, dale!
A2Should I call her? —Yes, go for it!
¡Vamos, equipo, dale con todo!
B1Come on, team, give it your all!
DJ, ¡dale!
B1DJ, hit it!
⭐ Usage Tips
Your Go-To Cheer Word
Think of 'dale' as a verbal green light. Use it to cheer someone on, agree to jump into an activity, or tell someone to 'go ahead'. It's full of positive, forward-moving energy.
In informal conversation, 'dale' is used to agree to a plan, meaning 'Okay' or 'Deal.' (¿Vamos? —Dale.)
dale(Interjection)
Okay
?Agreement
,Alright
?Confirmation
Sounds good
?Agreeing to a suggestion
,Deal
?Finalizing a plan
📝 In Action
Nos vemos a las ocho en el café. —¿Dale?
A2Let's meet at eight at the café. —Okay?
¿Quieres ir al cine esta noche? —Dale, vamos.
B1Do you want to go to the movies tonight? —Sounds good, let's go.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Casual 'Yes'
When someone suggests a plan, responding with 'dale' is a cool, casual way to say 'I'm in'. It's friendlier and more common in conversation than a formal 'sí'.
As a verb command, 'dale' literally means 'Give it (to him/her/you).' (Dale este recado.)
📝 In Action
El perro tiene hambre. Dale su comida, por favor.
A2The dog is hungry. Give him his food, please.
Si ves a María, dale este recado de mi parte.
B1If you see Maria, give her this message from me.
💡 Grammar Points
Command + Person = One Word
'Dale' is a mashup of two words: 'da' (the command 'give') and 'le' (which means 'to him/her/you'). In Spanish, when you give a positive command, you stick these little words directly onto the end of the verb.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Command vs. Statement
Mistake: "To tell someone 'Give him the book,' you might say: 'Le da el libro.'"
Correction: This actually means 'He/she gives him the book.' For a command, you must use the special command form and attach the 'le': 'Dale el libro.'
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dale
Question 1 of 2
Your friend says, '¿Vamos a la playa?' (Should we go to the beach?). What is a cool, informal way to say 'Sounds good!'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'dale' the same as 'vale'?
They are very similar! Both can mean 'okay'. 'Vale' is extremely common in Spain, while 'dale' is more common in Latin America. In many places, 'dale' also carries a stronger sense of energy and encouragement, like 'Let's do it!'.
I hear the singer Pitbull say 'Dale!' a lot. What does he mean?
He's using it as his signature hype word. In his songs, it means 'Let's go!', 'Hit it!', or 'Let's get this party started!'. He helped make the word famous all over the world.
Can I use 'dale' in a formal situation?
It's best to stick to more formal words like 'de acuerdo' (agreed) or 'sí, por favor' (yes, please) in formal settings. 'Dale' is a fantastic word for conversations with friends and in casual situations.