Spanish phrase of the week

Vale

OK, fine, sure

A1, beginnerYou can use everyday phrases and very simple sentences, introduce yourself and ask basic questions, as long as people speak slowly and help you out.

How to use it

Vale is the Spanish “OK”. You use it to agree, to show you’ve understood, or to wrap up a conversation: vale, vale, perfecto.

On the end of a sentence, ¿vale? works like “OK?” or “alright?” in English. It checks the other person is happy with something, without sounding pushy.

It’s also a verb. Valer means to cost or to be worth, so ¿cuánto vale? is one of the first things you’ll ask at a market.

Examples

  • Vale, nos vemos mañana.

    OK, see you tomorrow.

  • Te llamo luego, ¿vale?

    I'll call you later, OK?

  • ¿Cuánto vale este?

    How much is this one?

Good to know

Vale is very much Spain. In Latin America people tend to say está bien or dale instead, so vale is a giveaway that you learned your Spanish in Spain.

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