How to Say Okay in Spanish
How to say okay in Spanish: 'Vale' (BAH-leh) in Spain, 'Está bien' (es-TAH bee-EN) everywhere, plus 'Dale', 'Sale' and 'Listo'. Pronunciation and regional use.
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Quick answer
To say okay in Spanish, say 'Vale' (BAH-leh) in Spain, or 'Está bien' (es-TAH bee-EN) and 'De acuerdo' (deh ah-KWER-doh) anywhere. Latin American speakers also use 'Listo', 'Dale' (Argentina), 'Sale' (Mexico) or simply 'OK'. All express agreement — 'okay, fine, sounds good.'
Vale
/BAH-leh/ — Spanish
How to Say Okay in Spanish
“Okay” slips into almost every conversation, and Spanish gives you a rich, regional set of choices. In Spain the king of them all is Vale (BAH-leh); across Latin America you’ll lean on Está bien, Dale, Sale and Listo.
The Spanish Classic: Vale
Vale — pronounced BAH-leh
In Spain, vale is the everyday “okay” — agreement, acknowledgment, “got it,” “sure”:
- — ¿Quedamos a las ocho? — Vale. — “Meet at eight?” “Okay.”
- Vale, vale, ya voy. — Okay, okay, I’m coming.
It comes from valer (to be worth / valid), so it originally meant “that works.”
Copy the Phrase
The Spanish for “okay” is Vale (BAH-leh) — or Está bien across Latin America.
Okay Around the Spanish-Speaking World
Region matters a great deal with this word:
| Word | Pronunciation | Where it’s common | Sense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vale | BAH-leh | Spain | okay / fine |
| Está bien | es-TAH bee-EN | Everywhere | that’s fine / okay |
| De acuerdo | deh ah-KWER-doh | Everywhere | agreed / okay |
| Listo | LEES-toh | Latin America | done / okay / ready |
| Dale | DAH-leh | Argentina, Colombia | okay / go ahead |
| Sale | SAH-leh | Mexico | okay / sounds good |
| Va | bah | Mexico | okay / deal |
| Bueno | BWEH-no | Mexico, others | okay / alright |
| OK / Okey | oh-KAY | Everywhere | okay (borrowed) |
A Spaniard says Vale; an Argentine says Dale; a Mexican says Sale or Va; and Está bien and OK are understood by all.
”Está bien” — Works Everywhere
If you want one safe phrase that’s perfect in any country and any setting, use Está bien (“it’s fine / okay”):
- Está bien, no hay problema. — Okay, no problem.
- ¿Está bien si llego tarde? — Is it okay if I arrive late?
Formal vs. Informal
- Casual: Vale, Dale, Sale, Va, Okey.
- Neutral, safe anywhere: Está bien, De acuerdo, Perfecto, Muy bien.
- Best for formal/professional use: De acuerdo and Está bien.
None of these are rude, but in a work email or with someone you address as usted, reach for De acuerdo or Está bien rather than the breezier Vale or Dale.
Pronunciation & Cultural Tips
- The Spanish “v” is pronounced like “b,” so vale is BAH-leh, never “VAH-leh.”
- Dale and Sale end in a light “-leh,” stressed on the first syllable: DAH-leh, SAH-leh.
- “Okay” itself is fully understood; in texting you’ll see ok, okey, or even oka.
- A fun Mexican quirk: a snappy “Va” (literally “it goes”) means an enthusiastic “Okay, let’s do it!”
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say okay in Spanish?
Common options are 'Vale' (BAH-leh) in Spain, and 'Está bien' (es-TAH bee-EN) or 'De acuerdo' (deh ah-KWER-doh) everywhere. In Latin America you'll also hear 'Listo', 'Dale', 'Sale' or just 'OK'. They all mean 'okay / fine / agreed'.
How do you pronounce Vale?
Say it BAH-leh. The Spanish 'v' sounds like a soft 'b', so 'vale' starts with a 'b': BAH-leh, with stress on the first syllable. It rhymes loosely with 'olé'.
Is okay said the same across all Spanish-speaking countries?
No. 'Vale' is the classic okay in Spain but sounds European in Latin America. There, 'Está bien' is universal, while regional favorites include 'Dale' (Argentina, Colombia), 'Sale' and 'Va' (Mexico), and 'Listo' (Colombia and beyond).
What does Vale literally mean?
'Vale' is from the verb 'valer' (to be worth / to be valid), so it literally means 'it's valid' or 'it works' — which evolved into the casual 'okay / agreed'. As an interjection today it simply means 'okay, fine, got it'.
What is the most polite or formal way to say okay in Spanish?
For polite agreement, use 'De acuerdo' (agreed) or 'Está bien' (that's fine) — both neutral and appropriate formally. 'Perfecto' and 'Muy bien' also work as a courteous okay. 'Vale', 'Dale' and 'Sale' are more casual.