Spend one day in Madrid and count how many times you hear vale. I’ll save you the effort: a lot. On the phone, in shops, between friends, in the Metro. It’s probably the most Spanish word there is.
5 ways Spaniards use vale
1. To say OK
—Quedamos a las ocho. —Vale. → “Let’s meet at eight.” “OK.”
2. ¿Vale? To check you agree
Te llamo luego, ¿vale? → I’ll call you later, OK?
3. Vale, vale… To say “I get it, stop”
—¡Que no se te olvide! —Vale, vale… → “Don’t forget!” “OK, OK…”
4. Venga, vale. To end a conversation
Venga, vale, hasta luego. → Right then, see you.
5. ¡Vale ya! To say “enough!”
¡Vale ya, niños! → That’s enough, kids!
Other meanings of vale
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Cuánto vale? | How much is it? |
| Vale la pena | It’s worth it |
| No vale | That doesn’t count / That’s not fair |
| Un vale | A voucher (un vale de descuento) |
Vale vs OK in Latin America
Vale is very Spanish. In Latin America people understand it, but they usually say dale (Argentina, Colombia), órale or sale (Mexico), or simply está bien. Use vale in Spain and you’ll sound local instantly; it’s one of the 5 words in my how not to be a guiri list.
Want more words like this? Read Madrid slang words and how to speak Spanish (7 steps).
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FAQ
What does vale mean in Spain?
Vale means OK. Spaniards use it to agree, to check you understood (¿vale?) and to end conversations (venga, vale).
Is vale only used in Spain?
Mostly. Latin Americans understand it but usually say dale, órale, sale or está bien.
What does vale la pena mean?
It means “it’s worth it”.
What does ¿cuánto vale? mean?
How much is it? It comes from the verb valer, to be worth.
— Monica Bernabe Perez
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