Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
I DO in Spanish: SÍ, ACEPTO
Sí, Acepto · phrase · see ah-SEP-toh
The phrase I do has two primary contexts in Spanish: the wedding vow (sí, acepto in Latin America or sí, quiero in Spain) and emphatic agreement in everyday speech (yo sí). Understanding the difference is important because using the wrong form could turn a casual conversation into what sounds like a marriage proposal.
see ah-SEP-toh
¿Aceptas a este hombre como tu esposo? —Sí, acepto.
Do you take this man as your husband? —I do.
i do in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for i do, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| sí, acepto | i do | see ah-SEP-toh | Default, widely understood |
| yo sí | i do | emphatic agreement | |
| sí, quiero | i do | Spain, wedding vow |
How Native Speakers Use Sí, Acepto
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Wedding Vow
—¿Aceptas a María como tu esposa? —Sí, acepto.
—Do you take María as your wife? —I do.
The traditional wedding response in Latin American ceremonies.
Spanish Wedding
—¿Quieres a Carlos como tu esposo? —Sí, quiero.
—Do you want Carlos as your husband? —I do.
In Spain, the vow uses quiero (I want/love) rather than acepto.
Emphatic Agreement
—¿Quién quiere helado? —¡Yo sí!
—Who wants ice cream? —I do!
Everyday usage where I do means I want to or I agree.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Sí, Acepto
Literal Translation
Incorrect: Yo hago.
Correct: Sí, acepto. / Yo sí.
Yo hago literally means I make or I do (an action). The English I do in weddings or agreement contexts does not translate to hago.
Mixing Regional Forms
Incorrect: Sí, acepto (at a wedding in Madrid).
Correct: Sí, quiero (at a wedding in Madrid).
While understood, acepto is the Latin American tradition. In Spain, the standard wedding vow response is sí, quiero.
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Common Questions About i do in Spanish
- Why do Spanish weddings say quiero instead of acepto?
- In Spain, the traditional wedding question asks ¿Quieres...? (Do you want/love...?), so the natural response is Sí, quiero (Yes, I want/love). In Latin America, the question uses ¿Aceptas...? (Do you accept...?), requiring Sí, acepto.
- How do I say I do in everyday conversation?
- When responding affirmatively to a question like Who wants to go? you say Yo sí (literally I yes). This is the everyday equivalent of I do as emphatic agreement.
- Can I just say sí at a wedding?
- While a simple sí would technically communicate consent, the traditional and expected response at a Spanish-language wedding is the full phrase Sí, acepto or Sí, quiero. Using the complete phrase honors the ceremonial tradition.