Spanish Word of the Day: valer

Nowadays, many Spaniards plainly say ‘ok’ when they agree something. Well, not me. I simply prefer to use vale. Although I use that word every day, I had no idea what’s the story behind it, and I even thought it was a single word. Appears that it isn’t a single word, and that it’s a form of the verb valer.

Valer is a word with many meanings. The most prominent meaning is that of ‘to cost’ or ‘to be worth’. In Spain however, it’s used in colloquial speech as well. There vale means ‘ok’ or ‘all right’, the context I often use it in. Another thing I wasn’t aware of, is the combination with más. Adding más to it gives it the meaning of ‘better’. You could say that más vale kinda replaces mejor.

*Extra: In Mexico it can also have the meaning of ‘don’t give a damn’ or ‘to be useless’ in colloquial speech. Pretty funny if you ask me.

Sentences

¿A las ocho? — ¡Vale!
At eight o’clock? — Sure!

¿Vale?
OK?

Más vale así.
It’s better that way.

Más te vale ir.
You’d better go.

A mí eso me vale.
I don’t give a damn about that. (In Mexico)

Como profesor no vale.
As a teacher he’s useless.

Vales tanto como él.
You’re as good as he is.

*Sentences taken from “Pocket Oxford Spanish Dictionary”.

Tagged as: colloquial, colloquial speech, México, Sentences, spain, spanish word, Valer, word of the day