How do you say yes in Spanish?

Sí (with accent) = yes. Variations: claro (sure), por supuesto (of course), desde luego (certainly), vale (Spain, okay). Combine: Sí, claro. Claro que sí.

How do you say no in Spanish?

No = no. Variations: para nada (not at all), de ninguna manera (no way), claro que no (of course not), ni hablar (don't even speak of it), qué va (Spain casual no way).

Why does sí have an accent?

To distinguish from si (if, no accent). Sí (with accent) = yes. Si (without accent) = if. Without the accent, the word means if, which would change the sentence meaning.

What's the difference between claro and por supuesto?

Both mean of course. Claro is more casual / everyday. Por supuesto is more formal / emphatic. Use claro in casual contexts; por supuesto in formal or when really emphasizing.

How do I politely say no in Spanish?

Soften with gracias: No, gracias (No, thanks). Offer alternative: Quizás otro día (Maybe another day). Apologize: Lo siento, no puedo (Sorry, I can't). Avoid blunt no in polite contexts.

Spanish grammar · Beginner

How to Say Yes and No in Spanish

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Sí = yes. No = no. Variations: sí (yes), claro (sure), por supuesto (of course), desde luego (certainly), efectivamente (indeed); no (no), para nada (not at all), de ninguna manera (no way), claro que no (of course not).

Sí, claro. / No, gracias.

Yes, of course. / No, thanks.

What it is

Sí (with accent) = yes. No = no. Beyond the basics, Spanish has many emphatic variations: claro / por supuesto (of course), desde luego (certainly), para nada (not at all), de ninguna manera (no way).

Sí, claro (yes, of course). No, para nada (no, not at all).

How to spot it

Yes: sí, claro, por supuesto, desde luego, efectivamente, vale (Spain). No: no, para nada, de ninguna manera, claro que no, qué va (Spain).

Sí. — Yes.
Claro que sí. — Of course.
Para nada. — Not at all.

Sí (yes) always carries the accent to distinguish from si (if). Many emphatic ways to agree or disagree.

How to Say Yes and No in Spanish Quick Reference

Ways to say yes and no

Expression	Meaning	Strength
Sí	Yes	Standard
Claro	Sure / of course	Confident yes
Por supuesto	Of course	Very confident
Desde luego	Certainly	Emphatic yes
Efectivamente	Indeed	Confirmation
Vale (Spain)	Okay	Agreement
No	No	Standard
Para nada	Not at all	Emphatic no
De ninguna manera	No way	Very strong no
Claro que no	Of course not	Obvious no
Qué va (Spain)	No way	Casual emphatic

Common How to Say Yes and No in Spanish Examples in Spanish

Saying yes and no in Spanish:

Ways to Say Yes

Sí.: Yes.
Claro.: Sure / of course.
Claro que sí.: Of course.
Por supuesto.: Of course.
Desde luego.: Certainly.
Sí, claro.: Yes, of course.
Vale. (Spain): Okay.

Sí is the standard yes. Claro, por supuesto, desde luego add confidence / emphasis. Vale is Spain-specific okay.

Ways to Say No

No.: No.
No, gracias.: No, thanks.
Para nada.: Not at all.
De ninguna manera.: No way.
Claro que no.: Of course not.
Ni hablar.: Don't even speak of it.
Qué va. (Spain): No way.

No is the standard. Para nada, de ninguna manera, ni hablar are emphatic. Qué va is Spain casual.

Polite / Soft Disagreement

No, gracias.: No, thanks.
No, pero gracias por ofrecer.: No, but thanks for offering.
Quizás otro día.: Maybe another day.
No estoy seguro / segura.: I'm not sure.
Lo siento, no puedo.: Sorry, I can't.

Soft no's in Spanish: add gracias, offer an alternative (otro día), or apologize (lo siento, no puedo).

Confirmation / Agreement

Efectivamente.: Indeed / that's right.
Exactamente.: Exactly.
Eso es.: That's it.
Así es.: That's how it is.
Tienes razón.: You're right.

Use these when confirming someone else's statement rather than just agreeing to a request.

Yes and No in Spanish

Sí Has an Accent

Sí (yes) always has an accent to distinguish from si (if, without accent). The accent is the only difference in writing.

Sí (yes) vs. si (if): Sí, lo haré (Yes, I'll do it) vs. Si quieres (If you want).

Yes vs. if.

Sí = yes (accent). Si = if.

Add Claro for Confidence

Claro = sure / of course. Adds confidence. Claro que sí (of course yes), claro que no (of course not). More casual than por supuesto.

Claro que sí, voy contigo.

Of course, I'm going with you.

Claro = sure / confident.

Por Supuesto Is Formal Confident

Por supuesto = of course (literally 'for [it is] supposed'). More formal than claro. Use in professional or polite contexts.

Por supuesto, señor.

Of course, sir.

Por supuesto = formal of course.

Para Nada / Ni Hablar for Strong No

Para nada = not at all (strong no). De ninguna manera = no way. Ni hablar = don't even speak of it (very strong). Qué va is Spain casual.

Para nada, no me molesta.

Not at all, it doesn't bother me.

Para nada = strong no.

Common Mistakes with How to Say Yes and No in Spanish

Incorrect: Si, lo haré. (meaning yes) — Yes, I'll do it.

Correct: Sí, lo haré. — Yes, I'll do it.

Sí (yes) requires the accent. Without the accent, si means if. The accent is mandatory in writing.

Incorrect: Yes. (using English) — Yes.

Correct: Sí. / Sí, claro. — Yes.

Stick to Spanish. Don't mix English yes / no into Spanish conversation. Spanish has many natural alternatives (claro, por supuesto, vale).

How to Say Yes and No in Spanish FAQs

How do you say yes in Spanish?: Sí (with accent) = yes. Variations: claro (sure), por supuesto (of course), desde luego (certainly), vale (Spain, okay). Combine: Sí, claro. Claro que sí.
How do you say no in Spanish?: No = no. Variations: para nada (not at all), de ninguna manera (no way), claro que no (of course not), ni hablar (don't even speak of it), qué va (Spain casual no way).
Why does sí have an accent?: To distinguish from si (if, no accent). Sí (with accent) = yes. Si (without accent) = if. Without the accent, the word means if, which would change the sentence meaning.
What's the difference between claro and por supuesto?: Both mean of course. Claro is more casual / everyday. Por supuesto is more formal / emphatic. Use claro in casual contexts; por supuesto in formal or when really emphasizing.
How do I politely say no in Spanish?: Soften with gracias: No, gracias (No, thanks). Offer alternative: Quizás otro día (Maybe another day). Apologize: Lo siento, no puedo (Sorry, I can't). Avoid blunt no in polite contexts.