Different Ways to Say Yes in Spanish (Beyond Just "Sí")

Here's the thing: if you've been using "sí" for every single affirmative response in Spanish, you're technically correct—but you also sound like a textbook.

Native speakers have a whole arsenal of ways to say yes in Spanish, and which one they pick depends on where they're from, who they're talking to, and what kind of vibe they're going for. A casual "vale" between friends in Madrid hits different than a crisp "por supuesto" in a business meeting in Mexico City.

So let's break down the different ways to say "yes" in Spanish that'll actually make you sound like you know what you're doing.

Sí: The basics (and why the accent matters)

The direct translation of "yes" in Spanish is sí—pronounced like the English word "see."

Simple enough. But here's where a lot of learners mess up: that little accent mark over the "i" isn't optional.

Sí (with the accent) = yes

Si (without the accent) = if

These two words sound nearly identical when spoken, but in writing, mixing them up will confuse the hell out of everyone. And yes, it matters—because "si" without the accent is what you use to form conditional sentences in Spanish, not to agree with someone.

Quick example of the difference between sí and si:

Get it? Good. Moving on.

Claro: The "of course" that's everywhere

Claro is probably the most common way to say yes in Spanish after sí itself. The literal meaning is "clear," but as an expression, it translates to "of course" or "sure."

You'll hear it constantly. It's casual enough for friends but neutral enough that it won't get you weird looks in professional settings.

Examples:

You can also pump it up with claro que sí when you want to be more emphatic. It's like saying "yes, absolutely" or "of course, yes" in English.

The nice thing about claro is that it works almost anywhere. When in doubt, it's a safe bet.

Por supuesto: The slightly more formal "of course"

Por supuesto is another way to express agreement, and it carries a bit more weight than claro. Think of it as "certainly" or "of course" in a more deliberate way.

This one leans slightly formal, so you'll hear it in business contexts, with people you don't know well, or when you want to sound polite and put-together.

Example:

It's not stuffy—you can absolutely use it casually too—but if you're meeting your partner's parents or talking to a colleague, por supuesto is a solid choice.

De acuerdo: When you're agreeing to a plan

De acuerdo translates to "agreed" or "alright," and it's what you say when you're confirming that you're on the same page with someone.

This is less about enthusiasm and more about confirmation. You're saying "okay, we have a deal" or "sounds good, I'm in."

Example:

De acuerdo is common in professional settings—meetings, transactions, making plans with colleagues—but it works in everyday conversation too.

Vale: The Spanish (as in Spain) way to say yes

Now here's where regional differences start to matter.

Vale is everywhere in Spain. And I mean everywhere. It's the equivalent of "okay" or "alright," and Spaniards use it constantly—sometimes multiple times in a single sentence. You'll hear it so often it almost becomes background noise.

Example:

Here's the catch: vale is primarily a Spain thing. If you're in Latin America and drop "vale" into conversation, people will understand you—but it'll immediately mark you as either Spanish or someone who learned Spanish from Spaniards.

It's not wrong to use it, but be aware that it sounds a bit foreign in places like Mexico, Argentina, or Colombia.

Dale: The Latin American equivalent

In Argentina, Uruguay, and some other parts of Latin America, dale fills the same role that vale does in Spain. It means something like "go for it," "sure," or just "okay."

Example:

Dale has a slightly more action-oriented feel to it—like you're agreeing to actually do something. It's casual, friendly, and very common in everyday speech.

If you're learning Spanish and consuming content from Argentina (like shows, podcasts, or music), you'll hear dale all the time.

Bueno: The flexible "alright"

Bueno literally means "good," but in practice, Spanish speakers use it in a ton of different ways—including as a casual "yes" or "okay."

Example:

Bueno is less emphatic than claro. It's more of an "alright, fine" kind of agreement. Depending on your tone of voice, it can sound enthusiastic or slightly reluctant—context matters here.

Regional slang: How saying yes changes by country

One of the wild things about Spanish is how much vocabulary varies depending on where you are. Here's a quick rundown of informal ways to say yes across different Spanish-speaking countries:

Simón is Mexican slang that's similar to English "yeah man" or "for sure." It's very casual—you'd use it with friends, not in a job interview.

Sipo in Chile is a diminutive form of "sí"—kind of cutesy and informal.

These slang expressions aren't something you need to memorize before your first conversation. But if you're watching Spanish-language shows or listening to music, you'll start hearing them, and it helps to know what they mean.

Speaking of shows—if you want to pick up how native Spanish speakers actually talk, watching TV in Spanish is one of the best ways to absorb these regional differences naturally.

Formal and informal: Matching your "yes" to the situation

This is something textbooks don't always explain well, but it matters a lot in real conversations.

The register you use—formal or informal—affects which words and phrases feel appropriate. You wouldn't talk to your boss the same way you talk to your best friend, right?

Formal situations (job interviews, meeting elders, business):

Informal situations (friends, casual conversations):

A good rule of thumb: start more formal with people you don't know, then match their energy. If they're using casual language with you, you can loosen up too.

And honestly? Sí and claro are safe in almost any context. When you're unsure, stick to those.

The emphatic stuff: When you really mean YES

Sometimes a plain "sí" doesn't cut it. You want to show enthusiasm, strong agreement, or genuine excitement.

Here are some ways to pump up your affirmative:

Cómo no is especially nice—it literally means "how not?" and it's a polite, enthusiastic way to agree. Common in Mexico and other parts of Latin America.

How to actually learn this stuff

Look, reading a list of expressions is useful, but it's not going to make these phrases feel natural. The way you internalize this is by hearing them used over and over in real contexts—in conversations, shows, movies, music.

That's where the gap between "I know this word exists" and "I use this word without thinking" gets bridged.

If you've been wondering how to move past textbook Spanish and start sounding like an actual person, immersion is the answer. Not "move to Spain" immersion (though that works too), but surrounding yourself with real Spanish content that you can actually understand and learn from.

Migaku is built exactly for this. The browser extension lets you watch Spanish shows on Netflix, YouTube, or wherever—and look up words instantly when you don't know them. You can save vocabulary to review later with spaced repetition, and the whole thing syncs across your devices.

The point isn't to replace conversation practice. It's to give you the exposure you need so that when you do have conversations, expressions like "claro" and "dale" come out naturally instead of feeling forced.

There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out. Give it a shot.

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