Inklingo

How to Say "acceptable" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “acceptable” is “aceptable” — use this word when something meets a minimum standard of quality or is simply satisfactory, without being particularly good or bad. It's the most direct and general translation..

English → Spanish

aceptable

/ah-sep-TAH-bleh//a.sepˈta.βle/

adjectiveA2general
Use this word when something meets a minimum standard of quality or is simply satisfactory, without being particularly good or bad. It's the most direct and general translation.
A bowl of ripe, red apples with one small, slight blemish, sitting on a clean wooden table.

Examples

El resultado del examen fue aceptable.

The result of the exam was acceptable.

El servicio en el restaurante fue aceptable.

The service at the restaurant was okay.

Buscamos una solución aceptable para todos.

We are looking for a solution that is acceptable for everyone.

Sus notas en la escuela son aceptables.

His grades at school are satisfactory.

One word for both genders

This word doesn't change based on gender. You use 'aceptable' for both 'el' (masculine) and 'la' (feminine) things.

Making it plural

To talk about more than one thing, simply add an '-s' to make it 'aceptables'.

Don't change the ending to 'a'

Mistake: “La respuesta es aceptabla.”

Correction: La respuesta es aceptable. Words ending in -e in Spanish usually stay the same whether you are describing a boy thing or a girl thing.

decente

/deh-SEHN-teh//deˈθen̪.te/

adjectiveA2general
Choose this word when you mean 'acceptable' in the sense of being respectable, adequate, or good enough to meet a basic requirement, often related to living standards or ethical behavior.
A simple, well-made sandwich consisting of turkey and lettuce, neatly cut in half and placed on a plain white plate, illustrating acceptable quality.

Examples

Ganaron un sueldo decente para vivir cómodamente.

They earned a decent salary to live comfortably.

Necesitamos un sueldo decente para pagar las cuentas.

We need a decent salary to pay the bills.

La comida no era gourmet, pero era decente.

The food wasn't gourmet, but it was decent/acceptable.

El apartamento es pequeño, pero está en condiciones decentes.

The apartment is small, but it is in decent condition.

Always Ends in -e

Since 'decente' ends in '-e', it stays the same whether the noun is masculine (el trabajo decente) or feminine (la casa decente). Only change the ending for plural: 'decentes'.

potable

/poh-TAH-bleh//poˈta.βle/

adjectiveB2informal
Use this word informally to describe something that is passable or not great, but good enough for its purpose, often used for creative works like movies or books.
A simple, hand-drawn star on a sheet of paper with a yellow background, indicating a satisfactory grade.

Examples

La nueva novela del autor es potable, aunque no es su mejor obra.

The author's new novel is decent, though it's not his best work.

La película no es una obra maestra, pero es potable.

The movie isn't a masterpiece, but it's decent.

El examen me salió potable, creo que voy a aprobar.

The exam went okay for me; I think I'll pass.

Buscamos un candidato que sea medianamente potable para el puesto.

We are looking for a candidate who is somewhat acceptable for the position.

Using 'ser' or 'estar'

We usually use 'ser' with this meaning because we are describing the inherent quality of the thing.

Aceptable vs. Decente vs. Potable

Learners often confuse 'aceptable' and 'decente'. While 'aceptable' is a general 'good enough,' 'decente' implies a bit more about meeting a respectable or ethical standard. 'Potable' is usually reserved for informal contexts describing something as merely passable.

Related Translations

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