Vale
Vale is Spain's “OK”. Spaniards say it to agree, to confirm, to end a call and to fill a silence, often several times in a row: vale, vale, vale. It comes from valer (to be worth), so literally “it's valid”. In most of Latin America people understand it, but say está bien, dale or claro instead.
Not the Vale you were looking for? Vale is also an English word: a valley, as in a place name, and Latin for “farewell”. In Latin America, un vale is a voucher or coupon: un vale de descuento (“a discount voucher”). And más vale means “it's better to”: más vale tarde que nunca, “better late than never”.
How people really use it
Two friends in Madrid making plans.
- Lucía
Te espero en la puerta del cine a las siete.
I'll wait for you at the cinema entrance at seven.
- Javier
Vale, perfecto.
OK, perfect.
A colleague in Barcelona explains a change.
- Andrés
Al final la reunión es el jueves, no el miércoles.
In the end the meeting is on Thursday, not Wednesday.
- Camila
Vale, vale. Lo cambio en el calendario.
OK, OK. I'll change it in the calendar.
Checking someone understood, Spain-style.
- Mamá
Llámame cuando llegues, ¿vale?
Call me when you get there, OK?
- Diego
Que sí, mamá. Vale.
Yes, Mom. OK.
🤷 Depende del País
Vale is the clearest sign that someone learned their Spanish in Spain. Here is the same “OK” around the Spanish-speaking world.
- 🇪🇸 Spain: Vale, everywhere, all day. Also ¿vale? at the end of a sentence for “OK?”.
- 🇲🇽 Mexico: Sale, órale or va.
- 🇨🇴 Colombia: Listo or dale. You may hear vale too, especially in some regions.
- 🇨🇱 Chile: Ya.
- 🇦🇷 Argentina: Dale. I've never said vale in my life, and my friends would laugh if I did.
Register and sound
Register. Informal to neutral in Spain: fine with friends, at work, even with a shop assistant. In Latin America it sounds Spanish, not rude.
Sounds like. BAH-leh. Two syllables, stress on the first. Not like English “vale” (rhymes with “sail”).
Questions people ask
Is vale used in Latin America?
Rarely as “OK”. Latin Americans understand it, mostly from Spanish TV, but say está bien, claro, dale, listo or sale instead. In Venezuela and parts of Colombia it's more common.
What does ¿vale? mean at the end of a sentence?
“OK?” or “all right?”, asking for agreement: nos vemos mañana, ¿vale? means “see you tomorrow, OK?”.
Should I say vale if I learn Latin American Spanish?
No need. Use está bien or claro, which work everywhere. Learn to recognise vale for Spanish films, series and trips to Spain.
How good is your Spanish, really? Two minutes, real audio, and a level at the end.
In this cluster
- All Spanish phrases
- Spanish Filler Words: Pues, Este, O Sea and 12 More
- Best Spanish Podcasts by Level, With Their Accents
- ¡Dale! (OK! / Sure! / Go for it!)
- ¡Órale! (OK! / Wow! / Come on! (Mexico))
- Bueno (Well… / OK / Right then)