How to Say "it depends" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “it depends” is “depende” — use 'depende' as a standalone, often brief and sometimes evasive, response when the answer to a question is uncertain or conditional.
Use 'depende' as a standalone, often brief and sometimes evasive, response when the answer to a question is uncertain or conditional.
Learn more →Use 'según' as a concise, standalone answer, similar to 'it depends', often implying 'it depends on the circumstances' or 'according to' something unstated.
Learn more →deh-PEHN-dehdeˈpen.de
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
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
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