How to Say OK in Spanish
How to say OK in Spanish: 'Vale' (BAH-leh) in Spain, 'Está bien' (es-TAH bee-EN) everywhere, or just 'OK'. Pronunciation, regional differences and usage.
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Quick answer
To say OK in Spanish, say 'Vale' (BAH-leh) in Spain, or 'Está bien' (es-TAH bee-EN) and 'De acuerdo' (deh ah-KWER-doh) anywhere. In Latin America people also commonly use 'Listo', 'Dale', 'Sale' or simply 'OK'. They all mean 'okay / agreed / sounds good.'
Vale
/BAH-leh/ — Spanish
How to Say OK in Spanish
“OK” is everywhere — and Spanish actually has several great words for it, with a strong regional flavor. In Spain you’ll hear Vale (BAH-leh) constantly; across Latin America you’ll hear Está bien, Listo, Dale and more.
The Spanish Favorite: Vale
Vale — pronounced BAH-leh
In Spain, vale is the go-to “OK.” It signals agreement, acknowledgment, and “got it”:
- — ¿Nos vemos a las cinco? — Vale. — “Shall we meet at five?” “OK.”
- Vale, vale. — Okay, okay (got it).
It comes from the verb valer (to be worth/valid), so it originally meant “that works / it’s valid.”
Copy the Phrase
The Spanish for “OK” is Vale (BAH-leh) — or Está bien across Latin America.
OK Across the Spanish-Speaking World
This is where region matters a lot:
| Word | Pronunciation | Where it’s common | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vale | BAH-leh | Spain | OK / fine |
| Está bien | es-TAH bee-EN | Everywhere | That’s fine / OK |
| De acuerdo | deh ah-KWER-doh | Everywhere | Agreed / OK |
| Listo | LEES-toh | Latin America | Done / OK / ready |
| Dale | DAH-leh | Argentina, Colombia | OK / go ahead |
| Sale | SAH-leh | Mexico | OK / sounds good |
| Bueno | BWEH-no | Mexico, others | OK / well, alright |
| OK / Okey | oh-KAY | Everywhere | OK (borrowed) |
| Perfecto | per-FEK-toh | Everywhere | Perfect / OK |
A Spaniard says Vale; a Mexican says Sale or Va; an Argentine says Dale; almost everyone understands Está bien and OK.
”Está bien” — The Universal Choice
If you want one phrase that works everywhere and never sounds out of place, use Está bien (“it’s fine / that’s OK”). It’s neutral, polite, and understood in every country:
- Está bien, gracias. — That’s OK, thanks.
- ¿Está bien así? — Is this OK like this?
Formal vs. Informal
- Casual: Vale, Dale, Sale, Va, OK.
- Neutral / safe anywhere: Está bien, De acuerdo, Perfecto, Muy bien.
- More formal agreement: De acuerdo and Está bien are the safest in professional or polite settings.
There’s no rude version here — but Vale and Dale feel relaxed, so in a formal email or meeting, lean toward De acuerdo or Está bien.
Pronunciation & Cultural Tips
- Remember the Spanish “v” sounds like “b” — so vale is BAH-leh, not “VAH-leh.”
- Dale and Sale both end in a soft “-leh” and carry the stress on the first syllable: DAH-leh, SAH-leh.
- “OK” itself is widely understood and used, often spelled okey or oka in casual texting.
- In Mexico you’ll also hear a quick “Va” (literally “it goes”) as a snappy “OK, deal!”
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say OK in Spanish?
The most common ways are 'Vale' (BAH-leh) in Spain, and 'Está bien' (es-TAH bee-EN) or 'De acuerdo' (deh ah-KWER-doh) everywhere. In Latin America people also say 'Listo', 'Dale', 'Sale' or just 'OK'. All mean 'okay / fine / agreed'.
How do you pronounce Vale?
Say it BAH-leh. In Spanish the 'v' sounds like a soft 'b', so 'vale' starts with a 'b' sound: BAH-leh, with the stress on the first syllable. It rhymes loosely with 'olé'.
Is Vale used everywhere in the Spanish-speaking world?
No — 'Vale' is hugely common in Spain but sounds noticeably Spanish/European in Latin America, where it's used less. Latin American speakers prefer 'Está bien', 'Listo', 'Dale' (Argentina), 'Sale' (Mexico) or 'Bueno' to mean 'OK'.
What does Vale literally mean?
'Vale' comes from the verb 'valer' (to be worth / to be valid), so it literally means 'it's valid' or 'it's worth it' — which is how it came to mean 'OK / agreed'. As an interjection it now simply means 'okay, fine, got it'.
How do you say OK in a formal or agreement context in Spanish?
For agreement, 'De acuerdo' (deh ah-KWER-doh, 'agreed') and 'Está bien' (es-TAH bee-EN, 'that's fine') are neutral and work formally. 'Perfecto' and 'Muy bien' also signal a polite OK. 'Vale' and 'Dale' are more casual.