11 Simple Ways to Say ‘Of Course’ in Spanish
When I was a child in Mexico, my dad used to answer many of my questions just by saying, “Of course, my dear.” Now I know that those were the only four words of English he ever learned, most likely having picked them up from a movie or TV show.
Similar to English, the phrase “of course” in Spanish is a simple form of agreement, an easy filler in a line of thought, and an appropriate response to plenty of questions.
In this blog post, we’ll cover the purpose and meaning of the phrase, some of its most common uses, and 11 everyday ways to say “of course” in Spanish.
What is the Purpose of the Phrase “Of Course”?
Sometimes, saying “yes” just isn’t enough. We feel the need to emphasize that affirmation and perhaps add a slightly different meaning. That’s when a phrase such as por supuesto or “of course” in Spanish comes quite handy.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “of course” is used to:
- Say yes or give someone permission to do something
- Show that what you are saying is obvious
- Show that a situation is not surprising
But, in reality, this simple phrase has many other uses. You can say “yes, of course,” but you can also say “of course not,” meaning that it works both as an affirmation and as a negation. In the end, “of course” is a powerful tool that enriches your conversations with nuanced meaning.
Using Of Course in Spanish
“Of course” in Spanish is a phrase that has several different translations. We’ll see those in a minute, but first let’s explore what it means and how it’s used in Spanish.
The first thing to understand about the phrase “of course” in Spanish is that it’s one of the best ways to express your agreement with something or share an opinion. Just like in English, it can also express the same idea as some agreeable adverbs such as obviously (obviamente), certainly (ciertamente), or clearly (claramente).
11 Ways to Say Of Course in Spanish
You can say “of course” in Spanish in many different ways. Here, you have 11 of the most common ones:
1. Por supuesto
This is perhaps the most literal translation of the phrase “of course” in Spanish, and one of the most commonly used too. Por supuesto functions as a vigorous affirmation—not necessarily to state that something is obvious.
– ¿Vendrás a la fiesta mañana?
– ¡Por supuesto, ahí nos vemos!
– Are you coming to the party tomorrow?
– Of course, see you there!
2. Desde luego
Similar in meaning to por supuesto, desde luego is also widely used to express agreement and affirmation.
– ¿Me puedes ayudar a limpiar la casa?
– ¡Desde luego! ¿Qué necesitas?
– Can you help me to clean the house?
– Of course! What do you need?
3. Claro
Claro is another useful way to say of course in Spanish. It’s a word that expresses affirmation by itself. As we’ll see in the following points, it usually comes with added words to complete the idea it wants to express.
– ¿Te gusta el jazz?
– Claro.
– Do you like jazz?
– Of course.
4. Claro que sí
A variation of the previous way of saying of course in Spanish, claro que sí works as a double affirmation that leaves no room for doubt.
– ¿Estás seguro de que cerraste la puerta al salir?
– Claro que sí.
– Are you sure that you closed the door when you left the house?
– Yes, of course.
5. Claro que no
Just as it happens in English, of course in Spanish can also be used to reinforce a negative answer, with a bit of indignation even. As if you were offended by the question.
– ¿Tú sabías que Miguel estaba mintiendo?
– ¡Claro que no!
– Did you know that Miguel was lying?
– Of course not!
6. Claro está
The meaning of claro está is not as straightforward as the other phrases using the word claro. It’s another way of saying of course in Spanish, but it can also be understood as ‘sure enough.’
Claro está que haremos lo necesario para ayudarte.
Of course we’ll do whatever we need to help you.
7. Es un hecho
Although not exactly a translation of the phrase of course in Spanish, es un hecho conveys the same meaning, and that’s why I’ve included it on this list. In English it means “it’s a fact,” and in Spanish, you also hear it as a simple ¡hecho!
– ¿Estás seguro de que aprobaste el examen?
– Es un hecho.
– Did you pass the exam?
– It’s a fact.
8. Cómo no
This one may be a bit counterintuitive as it means yes, even though it includes the word no. Saying cómo no in Spanish is like asking the question “how could I not do it?” or “how could I say no?” in English, which is ultimately just another way of saying of course in Spanish.
– ¿Te gustó la casa?
– ¡Cómo no, está hermosa!
– Did you like the house?
– Of course, it’s beautiful!
Agreeable Adverbs
The last four ways of saying of course in Spanish are agreeable adverbs. Adverbs are words that can modify verbs, adjectives, or even other adverbs. In this case, we use them to express strong agreement.
9. Obviamente
Meaning “obviously” in English, obviamente is the best translation of the phrase of course in Spanish when it’s used to express the idea that something is obvious. Which is a very obvious statement, by the way.
– ¿Viste el partido del Real Madrid?
– Obviamente.
– Did you watch Real Madrid’s match?
– Obviously.
10. Ciertamente
Translated as “certainly,” ciertamente expresses an idea of affirmation that will usually be followed by an added comment or explanation.
– ¿Estás de acuerdo en que el Real Madrid es el mejor equipo del mundo?
– Ciertamente creo que tienes razón.
– Do you agree that Real Madrid is the best team in the world?
– Certainly, I think you’re right.
11. Definitivamente
Definitivamente, or “definitely” in English, is a conclusive adverb that leaves no room for any doubt. When you say definitivamente it’s because you’re completely sure of your answer.
– ¿Estás seguro de que quieres ir?
– Definitivamente.
– Are you sure you want to go?
– Definitely.
Of Course, You Want to Improve Your Spanish!
Now that you know the most common ways to say of course in Spanish, try to introduce them in your conversations. You can judge by the reaction of the people you’re talking to whether you used them correctly. A perfect way to do just that is by signing up for a free trial class with one of our native, certified teachers from Guatemala. Start saying por supuesto, obviamente, and more today!
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