Inklingo

How to Say "it depends" in Spanish

English → Spanish

depende

deh-PEHN-deh/deˈpen.de/

InterjectionA1General
Use 'depende' as a standalone, often brief and sometimes evasive, response when the answer to a question is uncertain or conditional.
A small figure stands at a fork in a winding path, shrugging their shoulders, indicating uncertainty about which direction to take. One path leads toward a bright sun, and the other leads toward dark rain clouds.

Examples

¿Vienes a la fiesta el sábado? — Depende.

Are you coming to the party on Saturday? — It depends.

¿Podemos terminar esto hoy? — Depende de si llega el material.

Can we finish this today? — It depends on whether the material arrives.

A Complete Answer

When used alone, 'depende' is a complete thought. It is the third-person form (like saying 'it depends'), but you do not need to say 'Ello depende.' Just say 'Depende.'

Don't Add 'Es'

Mistake: “Es depende.”

Correction: Depende. The verb already means 'It depends,' so adding 'es' (is) is redundant and incorrect.

según

AdverbB1General
Use 'según' as a concise, standalone answer, similar to 'it depends', often implying 'it depends on the circumstances' or 'according to' something unstated.

Examples

¿Vas a venir a la cena? - Según.

Are you coming to dinner? - It depends.

Choosing Between 'Depende' and 'Según'

Learners often confuse 'depende' and 'según' when translating 'it depends'. While 'depende' is a versatile interjection, 'según' functions more like an adverb, offering a slightly more formal or nuanced alternative in specific contexts.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.