vale
/BAH-leh/
📝 In Action
¿Vamos al cine esta noche? — ¡Vale!
A1Are we going to the movies tonight? — Okay!
Recuerda cerrar la puerta con llave. — Vale, no te preocupes.
A2Remember to lock the door. — Alright, don't worry.
Necesito que me ayudes con esto. — Vale, ¿qué hago?
B1I need you to help me with this. — Got it, what do I do?
❌ Common Pitfalls
Overusing it Outside of Spain
Mistake: "Using 'vale' constantly in Latin American countries."
Correction: While understood, it's not as common in Latin America. Try using 'okey', 'está bien', or 'dale' to sound more natural there.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Swiss Army Knife of Agreement
Think of 'vale' as your go-to word in Spain for agreeing to anything, from a simple suggestion to confirming you've understood instructions. You'll hear it constantly!
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: vale
Question 1 of 3
Your friend in Madrid says, '¿Tomamos un café?' How should you respond to say 'Okay!'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'vale' only used in Spain?
While it's most famous for being used constantly in Spain, it is understood in most of the Spanish-speaking world. However, it's used much less frequently in Latin America, where people are more likely to say 'okey', 'está bien', or 'dale'.
What's the difference between 'vale' and 'cuesta'?
When asking for a price, they are very similar. '¿Cuánto vale?' (How much is it worth?) and '¿Cuánto cuesta?' (How much does it cost?) are often interchangeable. 'Valer' can also be used for non-monetary value (e.g., 'vale la pena' - it's worth it), while 'costar' is almost always about price or effort.
Can I use 'vale' in a formal situation?
As an interjection ('Okay'), it's generally informal or neutral. In a very formal setting, it would be better to say 'De acuerdo' or 'Entendido'. When used as a verb ('it costs') or a noun ('voucher'), it is perfectly fine for all situations, formal and informal.