A0 · 8 · Complete beginner
How to Use Sí, No, Claro and Vale in Spanish
Short replies do a great deal of work in everyday conversation. At a café, in a shop or while making plans, these expressions let you accept, refuse, agree and show that you have understood without needing a full sentence.
Watch Clara explain this
What you'll be able to do
- ✓Accept and refuse offers courteously.
- ✓Acknowledge information or an arrangement with vale.
- ✓Confirm or agree warmly with claro and claro que sí.
- ✓Choose between a plain, courteous or warmer reply.
Plain yes and no
Sí is the plain affirmative answer, like yes in English. Remember its written accent. Without the accent, si means if.
No is also a complete answer. It is short and firm, which can be useful, but a bare no may sound abrupt when somebody is offering you something.
Accepting and refusing courteously
When somebody offers you something, sí, por favor is the ordinary courteous way to accept. As in English, add the word for please after yes when accepting an offer: sí, por favor.
To refuse an offer courteously, use no, gracias. The gracias does not change the refusal. It simply keeps it friendly.
| Moment | Reply | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Plain positive answer | Sí | A simple yes |
| Courteous acceptance | Sí, por favor | Accepts an offer politely |
| Plain refusal | No | Short and firm |
| Courteous refusal | No, gracias | Declines an offer politely |
Using vale as everyday OK
Vale is the everyday reply for OK or all right. Use it to accept what somebody has said, acknowledge information or confirm an arrangement. As a reply here, it does not mean valid.
A fairly level vale sounds matter of fact, not unfriendly. Add thanks with vale, gracias when somebody has agreed to do something or given you the information you needed.
After information has been repeated, vale, vale can show that you have understood now. Tone matters. A friendly delivery means all right, I’ve got it, while a sharp delivery can sound impatient.
Warm agreement with claro
Claro means of course or sure. With warm, lively intonation, it shows that you are readily willing to agree.
Claro que sí is a fuller and more emphatic confirmation, rather like certainly. Learn it as one complete expression for now.
The difference between vale and claro is often one of tone and purpose. Vale is a neutral acknowledgement or acceptance. A warm ¡claro! sounds more willing and enthusiastic.
The words
- sí
- yesIt needs a written accent. Without it, si means if.
- no
- noA complete answer, but short and firm on its own.
- claro
- of course / sureUse warm, lively intonation for willing agreement.
- claro que sí
- of course / certainlyA fuller and more emphatic confirmation.
- vale
- OK / all rightAn everyday acknowledgement or acceptance, often delivered with a level tone.
- vale, gracias
- OK, thanksAcknowledges something and adds thanks.
- sí, por favor
- yes, pleaseThe ordinary courteous way to accept an offer.
- no, gracias
- no, thank youThe ordinary courteous way to refuse an offer.
- vale, vale
- all right, I’ve got itOften used after something has been repeated. Tone can make it sound friendly or impatient.
More examples: real moments
- Baker
- Buenos días.Good morning.
- Carmen
- Buenos días.Good morning.
- Carmen
- Un café, por favor.A coffee, please.
- Baker
- ¡Claro!Of course!
- Carmen
- Vale, gracias.OK, thanks.
- Javi
- ¿Un café?A coffee?
- Lucía
- Sí, por favor.Yes, please.
- Javi
- Vale.OK.
- Lucía
- ¿Un café?A coffee?
- Javi
- No, gracias.No, thank you.
- Lucía
- Vale.OK.
- Nerea
- Buenas tardes.Good afternoon.
- Lucía
- Buenas tardes.Good afternoon.
- Nerea
- A las seis.At six.
- Lucía
- Vale, gracias.OK, thanks.
- Nerea
- Hasta luego.See you later.
- Lucía
- Hasta luego.See you later.
Remember
- •Sí means yes and needs its written accent.
- •Use sí, por favor to accept an offer courteously.
- •Use no, gracias to refuse an offer courteously.
- •Vale is the everyday reply for OK or all right.
- •A warm claro shows willing agreement, while claro que sí is fuller.
- •Tone can make vale, vale sound friendly or impatient.
Practice
Type or choose your answer; each one is checked as you go.
1. Choose the right reply
Choose the reply that best fits each meaning or situation.
1.Which reply is the everyday way to say “OK” or “all right”?
2.Someone offers you a coffee, but you do not want one. Which reply refuses courteously?
3.Which is the shorter expression for warm, willing agreement?
4.Which reply gives the fuller confirmation “of course” or “certainly”?
5.Which doubled reply is taught for ‘all right, I’ve got it’ after someone repeats information?
2. Build the expressions
Fill each gap with the missing word.
1.Complete the courteous acceptance: , por favor.
2.Complete the courteous refusal: No, .
3.Complete the acknowledgement with thanks: Vale, .
4.Complete the fuller confirmation: Claro que .
5.Complete the doubled acknowledgement: Vale, .
3. Translate the replies
Translate each short reply into Spanish.
1.Translate “yes”.
2.Translate “no, thank you”.
3.Translate “OK, thanks”.
4.Translate “certainly” using the fuller confirmation.
5.Translate “all right, I’ve got it” using the doubled reply.
4. Reply in the moment
Write the short reply that fits each situation.
1.You are offered a coffee and want one. Accept with the reply that includes please.
2.You are offered a coffee but do not want one. Refuse with the reply that includes thanks.
3.A friend tells you the time of an arrangement. Acknowledge it and thank them.
4.Someone asks you for a coffee. Agree warmly with the shorter expression.
5.Someone repeats information because you did not hear it. Use the doubled reply to show that you have got it now.
Your turn
Write three short replies: accept an offer courteously, refuse another offer courteously, and acknowledge an arrangement with thanks. Then say each reply aloud.
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Grammar in this lesson: Word stress and the written accent
Revised 27 October 2026