How to say 'is that okay' in Spanish for everyday permission-checking
You ask is that okay in Spanish by matching the phrase to the situation: ¿vale? or ¿está bien? for friends and quick checks, ¿te parece bien? when you want someone's opinion, ¿le parece bien? or ¿le importa? for formal or respectful requests, and ¿te molesta? when you're asking if something bothers them. The right choice depends on who you're talking to and what you're asking permission for.
The everyday go-to: ¿Vale? / ¿Está bien?
¿Vale? is the workhorse. You hear it constantly in Spain — at the end of a plan, after a favor, when handing someone something. It means okay?, all right?, deal?.
- Te llamo a las ocho, ¿vale? — I'll call you at eight, okay?
- Pásame la sal, ¿vale? — Pass the salt, okay?
- Nos vemos allí, ¿vale? — See you there, all right?
¿Está bien? works everywhere Spanish is spoken. Slightly more neutral than ¿vale?, it fits both casual and semi-formal moments.
- Dejo el coche aquí, ¿está bien? — I'll leave the car here, is that okay?
- Te envío el enlace por WhatsApp, ¿está bien? — I'll send you the link on WhatsApp, is that okay?
If you're in Latin America, ¿está bien? is your default. ¿Vale? marks you as a Spain speaker instantly.
Asking for someone's opinion: ¿Te parece bien?
Use ¿te parece bien? when the other person has a say — a meeting time, a restaurant choice, a plan change. It means does that work for you? or does that seem good to you?.
- Quedamos a las siete, ¿te parece bien? — Let's meet at seven, does that work for you?
- Pedimos pizza, ¿te parece bien? — We'll order pizza, is that okay with you?
- Cambio la cita al martes, ¿te parece bien? — I'll move the appointment to Tuesday, does that suit you?
Flip to usted for respect or distance: ¿le parece bien?.
- Le envío el informe mañana, ¿le parece bien? — I'll send the report tomorrow, does that work for you?
- Podemos hacerlo la semana que viene, ¿le parece bien? — We can do it next week, would that be all right?
Checking if something bothers them: ¿Te molesta? / ¿Le importa?
¿Te molesta? asks does it bother you? — use it when your request might inconvenience the other person.
- ¿Te molesta si abro la ventana? — Do you mind if I open the window?
- ¿Te molesta que me siente aquí? — Do you mind if I sit here?
- ¿Te molesta esperar un momento? — Do you mind waiting a moment?
¿Le importa? is the polite version. The structure shifts to the subjunctive: ¿le importa que + subjunctive?
- ¿Le importa si uso el baño? — Do you mind if I use the bathroom?
- ¿Le importa que fume? — Do you mind if I smoke?
- ¿Le importa repetirlo, por favor? — Would you mind repeating that, please?
In Latin America, ¿le molesta? often replaces ¿le importa? for the same meaning.
Quick permission with a verb: ¿Puedo? / ¿Me dejas? / ¿Me permite?
Sometimes is that okay hides inside a direct permission verb.
- ¿Puedo…? — Can I…? (neutral, universal)
- ¿Puedo sentarme? — Can I sit down? - ¿Puedo coger prestado tu boli? — Can I borrow your pen?
- ¿Me dejas…? — Will you let me…? (casual, friends/family)
- ¿Me dejas probar un bocado? — Will you let me try a bite? - ¿Me dejas el coche el sábado? — Can I have the car Saturday?
- ¿Me permite…? — Would you allow me…? (formal)
- ¿Me permite una pregunta? — May I ask a question? - ¿Me permite pasar? — May I come in?
Regional flavor: ¿Sale? / ¿Dale? / ¿Ya?
In Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Central America you'll hear:
- ¿Sale? — Is it a deal? / Does that work? — Nos vemos a las cinco, ¿sale?
- ¿Dale? — Okay? / All right? — Te aviso luego, ¿dale?
- ¿Ya? — Okay? / Right? (very common in Caribbean Spanish) — Te llamo mañana, ¿ya?
These don't translate word-for-word. They're the local equivalent of cool?, right?, deal? — use them once you've heard them in context.
Putting it together: a decision map
| Situation | Phrase | Register | |-----------|--------|----------| | Quick check with a friend | ¿Vale? / ¿Está bien? | Casual | | Asking a friend's opinion on a plan | ¿Te parece bien? | Casual | | Asking a stranger / older person | ¿Le parece bien? / ¿Está bien? | Polite | | Request might inconvenience them | ¿Te molesta si…? / ¿Le importa si…? | Casual / Polite | | Direct permission (can I?) | ¿Puedo…? | Neutral | | Direct permission (will you let me?) | ¿Me dejas…? | Casual | | Formal request (may I?) | ¿Me permite…? | Formal | | Argentina / Uruguay deal-check | ¿Sale? / ¿Dale? | Casual regional |
Common mistakes to avoid
**Translating okay literally as okey.** Spanish speakers say okey (or ok) in tech or very casual chat, but it sounds flat for permission. Use the phrases above.
**Using ¿está bien? for everything.** It works, but it can sound like you're asking is this correct? rather than do you agree?. ¿Te parece bien? signals collaboration.
**Forgetting the subjunctive after importa/molesta.** ¿Le importa que abro la ventana? ❌ ¿Le importa que abra la ventana? ✅ The subjunctive (abra, fume, use, repita) is mandatory here.
**Mixing tú and usted in the same sentence.** ¿Le parece bien si voy yo? ❌ (mismatched) ¿Le parece bien si voy yo? ✅ (both usted) ¿Te parece bien si voy yo? ✅ (both tú)
Practice the rhythm
Say these out loud. The intonation rises at the end — you're asking, not stating.
- Te llamo en diez minutos, ¿vale?
- Quedamos en la entrada, ¿te parece bien?
- ¿Le molesta si me siento aquí?
- ¿Puedo usar tu cargador un rato?
- Nos vemos el jueves, ¿sale?
Record yourself. Play it back. The melody carries the politeness as much as the words.
Frequently asked questions
What's the most universal way to say "is that okay" in Spanish?
¿Está bien? works in every Spanish-speaking country, in casual and semi-formal situations. It's the safest default when you're not sure which register to use.
When do I use ¿te parece bien? vs ¿le parece bien?
Use ¿te parece bien? with friends, family, peers, and anyone you address as tú. Use ¿le parece bien? with strangers, older people, authority figures, or anyone you address as usted.
Is ¿vale? understood in Latin America?
It's understood but marks you as a Spain speaker. In Latin America, ¿está bien?, ¿sale?, ¿dale?, or ¿ya? fill that slot depending on the country.
Do I need the subjunctive after ¿te molesta?
Yes. ¿Te molesta que abra la ventana? (subjunctive abra), not abro (indicative). The same rule applies to ¿le importa? — always subjunctive.
Can I just say ¿ok? in Spanish?
You'll hear okey or ok in very casual, often bilingual contexts, but it sounds borrowed and flat for permission-checking. The native phrases above carry the right social weight.
With a Langel
You: How do I ask my Spanish coworker if it's okay to move our meeting to Thursday?
Langel: ¿Le parece bien si cambiamos la reunión al jueves? — polite, uses usted, subjunctive after parece bien.
You: And if I'm asking a friend if they mind me opening the window?
Langel: ¿Te molesta si abro la ventana? — casual tú, subjunctive abra.
You: What if we're agreeing on a time in Argentina?
Langel: Nos vemos a las seis, ¿dale? — dale is the local okay? / deal?.
You: Can I practice the intonation?
Langel: Claro. Repite: ¿Te parece bien? — sube la voz al final. ¿Le importa que fume? — misma melodía. Inténtalo.
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