Say “yes” to Spanish by learning all the ways to answer in the affirmative. While sí is the first and most important word to know for saying “yes” in Spanish, you’ll have more natural conversations when you learn other options for agreeing, affirming, and declaring your answer in the positive.
Table of Contents
| Spanish | English |
| sí | yes |
| vale | ok |
| estoy de acuerdo | I agree |
| ok/okay | ok/okay |
| ¡Claro!/¡Claro que sí! | of course |
| ¡Por supuesto! | of course |
| ¡Desde luego! | of course |
| ¡Cómo no! | yes, of course |
| Sin duda | without a doubt |
Start with sí (yes)
The words sí and no (no) are probably among the first Spanish words you’ve learned, helping you ask and answer simple questions, like “Do you speak Spanish?”
- ¿Habla usted español? = Do you speak Spanish?
- Sí. Hablo español. = Yes, I speak Spanish.
- ¿Hace sol? = Is it sunny?
- Sí, hace sol. = Yes, it’s sunny.
In writing, remember to include the accent mark. Not only is this important for proper spelling, but also for meaning. Without the accent, the word si means “if.” These words are pronounced identically.
- ¿Sabes si tienes suficiente dinero? = Do you know if you have enough money?
- Sí, tengo suficiente. = Yes, I have enough.
Agreeing to a plan in Spanish
Getting together with friends is a great way to improve your Spanish. As you’re settling on a time and activity, there are some ways to agree with a suggestion and say “yes” in Spanish.
Vale (okay)
The word vale is used as both a question and answer. It’s very common in Spain and understood elsewhere. Use it like “Ok?” when you’re looking for agreement or confirmation.
- Mañana en la biblioteca, ¿vale? = Tomorrow at the library, ok?
- Vale. Hasta mañana. = Okay, see you tomorrow.
Be careful not to confuse this with the meaning “neither good nor bad” as in the way we use “okay” in English. In Spanish, you’d say más o menos instead.
- ¿Cómo estás? = How are you?
- Más o menos. = I’m okay.
Estoy de acuerdo (I agree)
This phrase is sometimes shortened to de acuerdo to save time. It means “I agree,” or “I’m in agreement,” and is another way to say “ok” or “yes” in Spanish when you’re making a decision or expressing an opinion.
- ¿Quedamos mañana a las seis? = We’re getting together tomorrow at six?
- De acuerdo, hasta entonces. = Yes, agreed, see you then.
Ok/okay
In much of the Spanish-speaking world, English words are used. You will likely also hear ¿Ok? as a question and answer in places where there are many bilingual speakers or where English is a prominent language, such as in Puerto Rico or many cities in the United States.
- Voy al trabajo. Hablamos luego, ¿ok? = I’m going to work. We’ll talk later, ok?
Está bien (fine/alright)
Another agreeable expression, similar to “alright,” this is a simple way to say “yes” in Spanish. Don’t get it confused with está bueno, which means that something is delicious or that someone looks particularly attractive that day.
- ¿Quieres cenar a las siete? = Want to have dinner at 7?
- Está bien. = Alright.
Informal versions of sí
As you speak English, pay attention to how often someone says “yes” vs. other informal alternatives, like “yep,” “yup,” “yeah,” “uh-huh” or even “okey dokey!” It will be similar as you learn Spanish and notice other words for “yes.” While formal situations call for a more “proper” sounding sí, the way people talk in real life is full of variety.
These slang and colloquial ways to say “yes” in Spanish don’t always have an exact English equivalent, but are ways to say “yes” that you may hear in regular conversations, depending on the region, person, mood, and generation.
- sip (“yep”)
- ajá (“uh-huh!”)
- ya (“yeah, agree!”)
- dale (Latin America)
- sisis (Colombia)
- sipi (Mexico)
- Simón (very colloquial/Central America)
While it’s great fun and very helpful to recognize slang and informal speech, try not to overdo it. (Can you imagine answering a serious question in a job interview with “yeppers?”)
In preparing travelers and students for conversations with native speakers, I advise learners to start with standard Spanish words and not overdo slang or informal words until they’re confident about when these words will sound most natural and appropriate.
Saying ‘yes’ with enthusiasm and certainty
Learning how to say “yes” in Spanish includes expressions with even more enthusiasm and emphasis. These phrases may not translate word-for-word to English, and there’s more than one way to say “of course.” It’s best to learn these expressions as a complete chunk of meaning that will help you express your excitement or certainty.
¡Claro! / ¡Claro que sí! (of course)
The word claro means “clear.” You might say the word claro when something is obvious.
- Está claro lo que esta señal significa. = It’s clear what this sign means.
As a response to a yes/no question, however, the word claro can emphasize “yes” in Spanish.
- ¿Quieres helado? = Do you want ice cream?
- ¡Claro! = Of course!
- ¿Te gustaría ir a España? = Would you like to go to Spain?
- ¡Sí, claro! = Yes, of course!
- ¿Quieres café? = Do you want coffee?
- ¡Sí! ¡Claro que sí! = Yes! Clearly, yes!
¡Por supuesto! (of course)
The word supuesto alone can mean “supposed” or “alleged,” when something is assumed to be true but not necessarily proven. The phrase por supuesto takes on a different shade of meaning, expressing certainty in the same way as “of course” or “it’s a given.”
- ¿Me puedes recomendar un libro? = Can you recommend a book for me?
- ¡Por supuesto! ¿Qué es lo que te interesa? = Of course! What are you interested in?
You can use translations of “of course not” as emphatic ways to say “no” in Spanish.
- ¿Van a nadar hoy? = Are you going to swim today?
- ¡Por supuesto que no! Hace mucho frío. = Of course not! It’s really cold.
- ¡Claro que no! No tengo mi traje de baño. = Of course not! I don’t have my swimsuit.
¡Desde luego! (of course)
Another possible way to say “of course,” this phrase is very different from its two individual words, desde (since/from) and luego (later).
- ¿Disculpe, podría ayudarme? = Excuse me, could you help me?
- Desde luego. = Of course.
¡Cómo no! (yes, of course)
It may seem counterintuitive to use “no” when you really mean “yes” in Spanish. Many learners are confused until they learn that the expression ¡Cómo no! is actually an enthusiastic way to say “yes, of course!”
- ¿Puedo hacer una reservación? = Can I make a reservation?
- ¡Cómo no! = Yes, of course!
It’s a great idea to have a native speaker, whether a friend or one of Rosetta Stone’s expert tutors, explain these types of phrases because tiny changes to basic Spanish words can have a drastic change in meaning. When I was learning Spanish, my native speaker teacher taught me the difference between:
- ¡Cómo no! = Yes, of course!
- ¿Cómo que no? = What do you mean, “no?”
Sin duda (without a doubt)
Another way to say “yes” in Spanish with certainty is to say sin duda. Unlike the other expressions in this list, this one does come from literal translations of the words sin (without) and duda (doubt).
- ¿Necesitaré mi pasaporte? = Will I need my passport?
- Sin duda. ¡No lo pierdas! = Without a doubt. Don’t lose it!
Saying ‘yes’ in Spanish with reluctance or less certainty
When you’re traveling, discussing next steps in a project, or making social plans, you can expect to answer “yes” with a shade of uncertainty at times. These expressions can indicate that your answer comes with a bit of doubt, or that you’re feeling less enthusiastic in your reply.
You can also sound less confrontational in an opinion-based conversation like a discussion board post if you soften your answers with these phrases, which allow more room for differences of opinion, as they sound less like established fact.
| Spanish | English |
| Creo que sí. | I believe so. |
| Me parece que sí. | It seems like it to me. |
| Pienso que sí. | I think so. |
| Sí, ¿no? | Yes, right? |
| Sí, supongo. | Yes, I suppose so./I guess. |
| Si tú lo dices. | If you say so. |
| Yo diría que sí. | I would say yes. |
Adverbs to underscore your ‘yes’ in Spanish
It’s helpful to note when English and Spanish suffixes are used in similar ways. The suffix “-mente” in Spanish will often correspond with “-ly” in English. Combine this suffix with a similar root word, and you’ll unlock even more comprehension of ways people might say “yes” in Spanish.
- ¿Vamos a trabajar más en eso mañana? = Are we going to work on this more tomorrow?
- Sí, obviamente. Necesitamos más tiempo. = Yes, obviously. We will need more time.
| Spanish | English |
| definitivamente | definitively |
| evidentemente | evidently |
| lógicamente | logically |
| naturalmente | naturally |
| obviamente | obviously |
Convey your true meaning with a variety of expressions
With such a wide range of expressions for “yes” in different languages, it’s important to be aware not only of the translations of words and phrases, but how people from different cultures express sarcasm, enthusiasm, frustration, and other nuances. Answering someone with a harsh por supuesto might come across as rude, while a smiling ¡obvi! (a shortened slang form of obviamente) might come across as cute and playful.
The first step is to recognize each of the expressions and you’ll be able to pay attention to tone, context, and non-verbal communication. In time, you’ll catch all the underlying meanings of the many ways to say “yes” in Spanish.
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