Okay

[Zahara]

How does one say 'okay' in Spanish? ¿Cómo se dice 'okay' en Español?

The only way I know how to say it is 'vale', but I understand this is used synonymously with 'that's fine', and not in any other context. I would like to know a Spanish word, similar to how one would use 'okay' in English, that can be used as an acknowledgement that you've heard what somebody has said, or something similar.

My teacher, who has admitted he doesn't know much Spanish himself, says that I can use 'bien' or 'bueno', but I'm not sure if he is correct, nor am I sure if it would be appropriate to say 'bueno' when somebody has just told you something unfortunate.

Any help is appreciated.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Zahara

My teacher, who has admitted he doesn't know much Spanish himself, says that I can use 'bien' or 'bueno', but I'm not sure if he is correct, nor am I sure if it would be appropriate to say 'bueno' when somebody has just told you something unfortunate.

Any help is appreciated.

Your teacher is correct.

Now, I find puzzling your statement above. highlighted in red.

Would it be OK to say OK in the same circumstances?

[poli]

It depends upon the country. In many Latin-American regions OK (certainly in Puerto Rico) is used. Often bueno is used. This is particularly common among people from Argentina. In Spain vale is used. In all countries de acuerdo is used.

[wrholt]

The word 'okay' can have a range of uses that does not always allow using the same word to translate it into another language.

The most common use, of course, is to agree to something. As your teacher, chileno and poli suggest, often 'vale', 'bueno', 'bien' or 'okay' (borrowed from English) are good. There may be other possibilities, too.

In a conversation, "okay" is one of several words or noises that may be used as an aknowledgement that you heard what someone said; that it, it's feedback to the speaker that you're still listening. When used this way, 'okay' normally signals comprehension, not agreement.

In a computer program, the abbreviation "OK" frequentlly appears as the alternative to "Cancel" when the program wants the user to choose whether to commit to or cancel an operation. In Spanish the usual choices are "Aceptar" = "OK" and "Cancelar" = "Cancel".

[deandddd]

In spain they say "vale" or sometimes "vale pues!" But everywhere, "muy bien" and even "de acuerdo" are also heard.

Dean

[Gala]

And "Está bien." This can be an OK of true agreement, but also sometimes seems to be one of grudging, exasperated agreement, as when someone concedes a point but isn't really happy to do so. Kind of like "Yeah, OK, whatever you say." In that case "Está bien" is often repeated twice.

[Glen]

¿Qué tal Oquei, maguey?

[poli]

Originally Posted by Glen

¿Qué tal Oquei, maguey?

Be aware that this is a Mexican term.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I agree with Poli. The word "maguey" refers to a succulent plant similar to aloe, and it may have many different names in other countries.

Oh, and by the way, if one were to stick to the sound, we would still write it with a k: Okey, maguey.

[JPablo]

Yup, but isn't there something in English like "Okay, Mckay"?
Or, "Okay, dockey, Smokey"?

There are people (I am included there) that uses "okéi"* as "vale"... Interestingly enough, when talking to people in Spanish, I used to overuse "Ok", and they would ask me, "Are you American, or something?", which was not the case, as my English level at the time was "Yes/No, black/white, follow me, and ok."

I agree with the "vale" in Spain. And in Mexico I heard "sale y vale" or something like that.

Okay?

Pues vale.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by JPablo

Yup, but isn't there something in English like "Okay, Mckay"? Nope, this expression was coined by Leticia Sabater, in Spain of all places.
Or, "Okay, dockey, Smokey"?

This is used in the U.S. with the
following spelling: okie dokie smokie
or, more popular: okie dokie artichokie

[JPablo]

Wow, okay... (Good Lord!)