Why Valer Is More Than "To Be Worth"
Valer is the verb of worth, and its form vale is also the most common Spanish word for "okay" in Spain. It is irregular in the first person (valgo) and in the present subjunctive (valga). It also gives you fixed chunks for prices, value, and proverbs.
Learn these six patterns as whole chunks and you will agree, ask prices, and judge worth without translating word by word.
Pattern 1: Vale — "OK"
In Spain, vale is the everyday word for "okay". Use it to agree, to confirm, and to check understanding as a tag question. In much of Latin America, people say está bien or dale instead, but vale is understood everywhere.
- Vale, de acuerdo. — Okay, agreed.
- Nos vemos a las ocho, ¿vale? — See you at eight, okay?
- Vale, vale, ya voy. — Okay, okay, I'm coming.
Chunk to learn:
Vale / ¿Vale? / Vale, de acuerdo
Pattern 2: ¿Cuánto vale? — "How much is it worth?"
Ask the price with valer, especially for things, tickets, and services. It sounds natural at markets and shops, and the answer repeats the verb. For more on paying, see [Pagar] Chunks.
- ¿Cuánto vale esto? — How much is this?
- Vale diez euros. — It costs ten euros.
- ¿Cuánto valen los billetes? — How much are the tickets?
Chunk to learn:
¿Cuánto vale(n) + [thing]? / Vale + [amount]
Pattern 3: Vale la pena — "It's worth it"
The classic chunk for deciding whether an effort is worth it. Use it with an infinitive for a general idea and with que plus the subjunctive for a specific one. For more on the subjunctive, see Subjunctive Chunks.
- Vale la pena visitarlo. — It's worth visiting.
- No vale la pena discutir. — It isn't worth arguing.
- Vale la pena que lo intentes. — It's worth your trying.
Chunk to learn:
Vale la pena + [infinitive / que + subjunctive]
Pattern 4: Más vale… — "It's better to…"
The proverb pattern. Más vale tarde que nunca is the best-known one, and más vale que plus the subjunctive gives advice or a warning.
- Más vale tarde que nunca. — Better late than never.
- Más vale prevenir que curar. — Prevention is better than cure.
- Más vale que te des prisa. — You'd better hurry up.
Chunk to learn:
Más vale + [infinitive] / Más vale que + [subjunctive]
Pattern 5: No vale — "That's not allowed"
In games and arguments, no vale means "that is against the rules" or "that doesn't count". Children say it all the time, and adults use it for fairness.
- ¡No vale hacer trampa! — No cheating!
- Eso no vale. — That doesn't count.
- No vale, empezaste antes. — No fair, you started early.
Chunk to learn:
No vale + [infinitive] / Eso no vale
Pattern 6: Valer oro — "To be worth gold"
A compliment for a person or a thing of great value. Use valer oro or valer su peso en oro for people who help, advice that saves you, and objects you would not sell.
- Un amigo así vale oro. — A friend like that is worth gold.
- Tu consejo vale su peso en oro. — Your advice is worth its weight in gold.
- Esa experiencia vale mucho. — That experience is worth a lot.
Chunk to learn:
Valer oro / Valer su peso en oro / Valer mucho
Valer vs. Costar
Costar is the usual verb for price: ¿Cuánto cuesta? Valer adds the idea of worth, and it is common in speech. Both work for asking about prices, and you will hear both. For another verb of worth and mattering, see [Importar] Chunks.
Start with vale and vale la pena. You will use both the next time you speak Spanish.
This post is part of the Spanish Chunk Series — a growing collection of chunk patterns for natural Spanish.