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How to Say "iou" in Spanish

English → Spanish

vale

/BAH-leh//ˈbale/

nounB1informal
Use 'vale' for informal promises to pay, like a voucher, coupon, or a casual IOU between friends.
A person's hands holding a paper gift voucher for a coffee shop.

Examples

Me debes un vale por la cena de anoche.

You owe me an IOU for dinner last night.

Tengo un vale de descuento del 20% para esta tienda.

I have a 20% discount voucher for this store.

Me pagó con un vale de comida para el restaurante de la empresa.

He paid me with a meal voucher for the company restaurant.

No tengo dinero ahora, ¿te puedo firmar un vale?

I don't have money right now, can I sign an IOU for you?

It's a Masculine Noun

Even though it ends in '-e', 'vale' is a masculine noun. So, you always say 'un vale' or 'el vale', not 'una vale'.

pagaré

nounB2formal
Use 'pagaré' for a more formal written acknowledgment of debt, often legally binding, like a promissory note.

Examples

Firmé un pagaré al banco para el crédito del coche.

I signed a promissory note to the bank for the car loan.

Vale vs. Pagaré

Learners often confuse 'vale' and 'pagaré' by using the informal 'vale' in situations requiring a formal document. Remember that 'pagaré' is for serious, often legal, debts, while 'vale' is for casual acknowledgments or vouchers.

Related Translations

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