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valen

VAH-lenˈbalen

“valen” means “are worth” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

are worth, cost

Also: are good for
VerbA1irregular er
Three large, perfectly cut, sparkling emerald gemstones displayed on a simple black velvet cushion, emphasizing their high monetary worth.
gerundvaliendo
infinitivevaler
past Participlevalido

📝 In Action

Estas entradas valen cien euros cada una.

A1

These tickets cost one hundred euros each.

Dicen que los consejos de los abuelos siempre valen oro.

A2

They say that grandparents' advice is always worth gold.

¿Cuánto valen estos libros viejos? ¿Tienen algún valor?

A2

How much are these old books worth? Do they have any value?

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • valen la pena – they are worth the effort/trouble
  • valen mucho – they are worth a lot

are valid, are effective

Also: count
VerbB1irregular er
A stack of five official-looking blank parchment scrolls tied with red ribbons, with a large, bright green stylized checkmark floating above the stack, indicating approval.
gerundvaliendo
infinitivevaler
past Participlevalido

📝 In Action

Estas tarjetas de descuento solo valen hasta fin de mes.

B1

These discount cards are only valid until the end of the month.

En este juego, los puntos extra valen el doble.

B1

In this game, the extra points count double.

Las promesas que se hacen a la ligera no valen nada.

B2

Promises made lightly are not valid (or worth) anything.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • no valen – they don't count/they are not valid
  • valen para – they are useful for

Idioms & Expressions

  • no valen un pimiento – they are worthless (informal)

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

yovaliera/valiese
él/ella/ustedvaliera/valiese
túvalieras/valieses
vosotrosvalierais/valieseis
nosotrosvaliéramos/valiésemos
ellos/ellas/ustedesvalieran/valiesen

present

yovalga
él/ella/ustedvalga
túvalgas
vosotrosvalgáis
nosotrosvalgamos
ellos/ellas/ustedesvalgan

indicative

imperfect

yovalía
él/ella/ustedvalía
túvalías
vosotrosvalíais
nosotrosvalíamos
ellos/ellas/ustedesvalían

present

yovalgo
él/ella/ustedvale
túvales
vosotrosvaléis
nosotrosvalemos
ellos/ellas/ustedesvalen

preterite

yovalí
él/ella/ustedvalió
túvaliste
vosotrosvalisteis
nosotrosvalimos
ellos/ellas/ustedesvalieron
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "valen" in Spanish:

are effective→are valid→are worth→cost→count→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: valen

Question 1 of 2

In the sentence 'Los billetes antiguos no valen en la tienda,' what is the best translation for 'valen'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb *valēre*, meaning 'to be strong,' 'to be well,' or 'to be of value.' This origin explains why the Spanish word covers both physical strength/health and monetary worth.

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: valereFrench: valoir

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'valen' the only form of the verb 'valer' that is used often?

No. The singular form 'vale' (it is worth/it is okay) is extremely common, especially to mean 'okay' or 'agreed.' 'Valen' is simply the plural version, used when talking about multiple things.

How do I know if 'valen' means 'cost' or 'is valid'?

The context usually makes it clear. If the sentence includes a price or currency (euros, dólares), it means 'cost.' If it refers to documents, rules, or agreements, it means 'are valid' or 'are effective.'