What is the difference between acuerdo, convenio, and contrato?

Acuerdo is the broadest term, covering any kind of agreement from informal consensus to formal pacts. Convenio is specifically a formal accord between organizations, governments, or institutions—often translated as 'covenant' or 'treaty.' Contrato is a legally binding written document with enforceable terms and conditions. All three can translate to 'agreement,' but they differ in formality and legal weight.

How do you say 'I agree' in Spanish?

The most common expression is estoy de acuerdo (I am in agreement). For emphasis, you can say estoy totalmente de acuerdo (I totally agree) or estoy completamente de acuerdo (I completely agree). In casual speech, simply saying de acuerdo functions like 'okay' or 'agreed.'

What does de acuerdo mean in everyday conversation?

De acuerdo in daily speech functions like 'okay,' 'all right,' or 'agreed.' It confirms that you understand and accept what the other person has said. For example: Nos vemos a las tres. — De acuerdo. (See you at three. — Agreed.) It is polite, neutral, and universally understood across all Spanish-speaking countries.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

AGREEMENT in Spanish: ACUERDO

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

Acuerdo · noun · ah-KWEHR-doh

Agreement in Spanish is acuerdo, used for mutual understanding, formal pacts, and everyday consensus. The expression de acuerdo (in agreement / okay) is one of the most common phrases in spoken Spanish. For legal or institutional contexts, convenio refers to a formal accord or treaty, while contrato specifically means a binding written contract.

ah-KWEHR-doh

Llegamos a un acuerdo después de varias horas de negociación.

We reached an agreement after several hours of negotiation.

Agreement in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for agreement, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
acuerdo	agreement	ah-KWEHR-doh	Default, widely understood
convenio	agreement		formal/legal agreement or treaty
contrato	agreement		contract — binding written agreement

How Native Speakers Use Acuerdo

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Business negotiation

Las dos empresas firmaron un acuerdo de colaboración por cinco años.

The two companies signed a five-year collaboration agreement.

Firmar un acuerdo (to sign an agreement) is standard in business.

Everyday consensus

¿Estás de acuerdo con el plan para este fin de semana?

Do you agree with the plan for this weekend?

De acuerdo is used constantly in conversation to express agreement.

International treaty

Los países vecinos alcanzaron un convenio sobre el uso del agua compartida.

The neighboring countries reached an agreement on shared water use.

Convenio is preferred for treaties and intergovernmental accords.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Acuerdo

Confusing acuerdo with acorde

Incorrect: Estoy acorde contigo.

Correct: Estoy de acuerdo contigo.

Acorde means 'in tune' or 'consistent with' (acorde con las reglas). De acuerdo is the correct expression for 'in agreement with someone.' They look similar but have different uses.

Using agreemento as a false cognate

Incorrect: Firmamos un agreemento de paz.

Correct: Firmamos un acuerdo de paz.

Agreemento does not exist in Spanish. The correct word is acuerdo. This mistake comes from directly adapting the English word with a Spanish-sounding suffix.

Lock in Agreement Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Acuerdo used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using acuerdo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Llegamos a un acuerdo después de varias horas de negociación. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Agreement in Spanish

What is the difference between acuerdo, convenio, and contrato?: Acuerdo is the broadest term, covering any kind of agreement from informal consensus to formal pacts. Convenio is specifically a formal accord between organizations, governments, or institutions—often translated as 'covenant' or 'treaty.' Contrato is a legally binding written document with enforceable terms and conditions. All three can translate to 'agreement,' but they differ in formality and legal weight.
How do you say 'I agree' in Spanish?: The most common expression is estoy de acuerdo (I am in agreement). For emphasis, you can say estoy totalmente de acuerdo (I totally agree) or estoy completamente de acuerdo (I completely agree). In casual speech, simply saying de acuerdo functions like 'okay' or 'agreed.'
What does de acuerdo mean in everyday conversation?: De acuerdo in daily speech functions like 'okay,' 'all right,' or 'agreed.' It confirms that you understand and accept what the other person has said. For example: Nos vemos a las tres. — De acuerdo. (See you at three. — Agreed.) It is polite, neutral, and universally understood across all Spanish-speaking countries.