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How to Say "that's right" in Spanish

English → Spanish

ajá

interjectionA1casual
Use 'ajá' for a very casual, often non-verbal, confirmation that you understand or agree, similar to 'uh-huh' or 'right'.

Examples

—¿Quieres el café con azúcar? —Ajá.

—Do you want coffee with sugar? —Uh-huh.

efectivamente

/eh-fek-tee-bah-MEN-teh//efektibaˈmente/

adverbB1
Use 'efectivamente' to confirm that something is true or correct, often in response to a question or statement, similar to 'indeed' or 'precisely'.
A person nodding their head with a friendly smile and a thumb up.

Examples

—¿Había mucha gente en la fiesta? —Efectivamente, estaba lleno.

—Were there many people at the party? —Indeed, it was packed.

Efectivamente, el tren llegó con retraso.

Exactly as expected, the train arrived late.

The 'Confirmation' Word

Use this word when you want to say 'yes' but want to sound a bit more certain or formal than just saying 'sí'.

The 'Effectively' Trap

Mistake: “Using 'efectivamente' to mean 'doing something in an efficient way'.”

Correction: Use 'eficientemente' for 'efficiently'. 'Efectivamente' is almost always about confirming the truth of something.

Ajá vs. Efectivamente

Learners often confuse 'ajá' and 'efectivamente' by using the more formal 'efectivamente' in very casual situations where 'ajá' is more natural. Remember, 'ajá' is a simple sound of agreement, while 'efectivamente' is a more explicit confirmation of fact.

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