How to Say Of Course in Spanish: Claro, Por Supuesto, and More

The most common way to say of course in Spanish is claro, pronounced /ˈklaɾo/. It is the everyday choice for “sure,” “definitely,” and “of course,” but Spanish gives you several alternatives that change the level of warmth, certainty, and formality.

Spanish has more than 496 million native speakers and is official in 20 sovereign countries, according to Instituto Cervantes data. That wide reach matters: a phrase such as /ˈklaɾo/ works almost everywhere, while the preferred tone can differ between Madrid, Mexico City, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, and many other communities.

If you are building practical conversation skills, start with the core phrases below, then listen for them in real dialogue. They occur constantly in the same everyday situations as the greetings in our guide to how to say hello in Spanish.

The best translation in most situations

Use claro /ˈklaɾo/ when someone asks a normal question or makes a reasonable request. It is short, natural, and suitable for almost any informal conversation.

A friend asks whether you can send them a photo. A coworker asks whether you understand an instruction. A waiter asks whether you would like another minute with the menu. In each case, /ˈklaɾo/ is a fluent response.

Claro

Claro /ˈklaɾo/ literally relates to “clear,” but as an answer it means “of course,” “sure,” or “clearly.” It is usually the safest first phrase to learn.

You can make /ˈklaɾo/ sound warmer by adding someone’s name or a small follow-up:

• Claro, Ana. /ˈklaɾo ˈana/, “Of course, Ana.”
• Claro, no hay problema. /ˈklaɾo no aj pɾoˈβlema/, “Of course, no problem.”
• Claro, con gusto. /ˈklaɾo koŋ ˈɡusto/, “Of course, with pleasure.”

The phrase also appears in longer sentences. Está claro /esˈta ˈklaɾo/ means “it is clear,” while claro que sí /ˈklaɾo ke si/ means “of course, yes.” Do not treat every appearance of /ˈklaɾo/ as a direct equivalent of English “of course.” The surrounding sentence determines the meaning.

Six natural ways to say of course

The alternatives below are not interchangeable in every moment. They all express agreement, but each has a distinct social effect.

Claro que sí

Claro que sí /ˈklaɾo ke si/ is more enthusiastic than plain /ˈklaɾo/. It means “of course, yes,” “absolutely,” or “definitely.”

Say it when accepting an invitation, confirming an ability, or supporting someone who needs reassurance. It has a natural upward energy in friendly speech.

There is also claro que no /ˈklaɾo ke no/, “of course not.” Be careful with tone. It may be comforting in Claro que no estás solo /ˈklaɾo ke no esˈtas ˈsolo/, “Of course you are not alone,” but can sound dismissive if it rejects someone’s concern too abruptly.

Por supuesto

Por supuesto /poɾ suˈpwesto/ is a direct, widely understood option. It means “of course,” “certainly,” or “naturally,” and it often sounds more intentional than /ˈklaɾo/.

Use /poɾ suˈpwesto/ in an email, a work conversation, or a more careful interaction with someone you do not know well. It is not stiff, but it carries more weight than a quick /ˈklaɾo/.

The Real Academia Española dictionary records supuesto in senses connected with an assumption or premise. In the fixed expression /poɾ suˈpwesto/, however, learners should memorize the whole phrase rather than translate it word by word.

Desde luego

Desde luego /dezˈlweɣo/ means “certainly,” “indeed,” or “of course.” It conveys firm agreement and is especially common in Spain, though it is understood throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

Because /dezˈlweɣo/ has a confident tone, it works well when agreeing with an opinion: Desde luego, es una buena idea /dezˈlweɣo es ˈuna ˈβwena iˈðea/, “Absolutely, it is a good idea.”

Do not overuse it in very casual chats if you are aiming for relaxed speech. /ˈklaɾo/ is generally lighter and more frequent for simple requests.

Cómo no

Cómo no /ˈkomo no/ literally looks like “how not,” yet its everyday meaning is often “of course,” “certainly,” or “why not.” It is a gracious response when somebody asks for help or permission.

This is an excellent phrase to recognize in films, shops, hotels, and restaurants. If a server replies /ˈkomo no/ after a request, they are usually saying they are happy to do it.

Its literal structure can confuse English speakers. Spanish conversation depends heavily on context, and short replies do not always map word for word. Henk Haverkate’s work on Spanish verbal politeness helps explain why responses that show willingness, support, and attentiveness are socially valuable in these interactions.

Naturalmente

Naturalmente /natuɾalˈmente/ means “naturally” or “of course.” It is correct and elegant, but it is more formal or rhetorical than /ˈklaɾo/.

Use it in presentations, writing, interviews, or a careful conversation:

• Naturalmente, respetamos su decisión. /natuɾalˈmente respeˈtamos su ðesiˈsjon/, “Naturally, we respect your decision.”
• Naturalmente que sí. /natuɾalˈmente ke si/, “Naturally, yes.”

In a casual message to a close friend, /ˈklaɾo/ or /ˈklaɾo ke si/ usually feels more natural. Choosing /natuɾalˈmente/ for every “of course” can make your Spanish sound overly formal.

Seguro

Seguro /seˈɣuɾo/ can mean “sure,” “certain,” or “safe.” As a conversational response, seguro /seˈɣuɾo/ and seguro que sí /seˈɣuɾo ke si/ express confident agreement.

• ¿Puedes venir mañana? Seguro. /ˈpweðes beˈniɾ maˈɲana seˈɣuɾo/, “Can you come tomorrow? Sure.”
• Seguro que sí. /seˈɣuɾo ke si/, “Definitely.”

This option is particularly useful when “sure” is the better English translation. It is less neutral than /ˈklaɾo/ because it highlights certainty.

Choosing the right phrase by situation

Here is the practical shortcut:

Spanish grammar references such as the Nueva gramática de la lengua española distinguish between literal word meanings and discourse uses. That distinction is key here: these expressions are not only vocabulary items, they are tools for managing agreement and interpersonal tone.

Tone can change the meaning

English “of course” can sound kind, neutral, or annoyed. Spanish works the same way. A friendly /ˈklaɾo/ with a relaxed voice says “sure, happy to,” while a sharp /ˈklaɾo/ may suggest “obviously.”

Consider these two situations:

• Claro, te explico otra vez. /ˈklaɾo te eksˈpliko ˈotɾa βes/, “Of course, I’ll explain again.”
• Claro, ya lo sé. /ˈklaɾo ʝa lo se/, “Of course, I already know.”

The first can be generous. The second can sound irritated if delivered too strongly. If you are unsure, soften the phrase with sí /si/, por favor /poɾ faˈβoɾ/, or con gusto /koŋ ˈɡusto/.

Regional usage across the Spanish-speaking world

All six main options are understood across Spanish-speaking regions, but frequency varies. Francisco Moreno Fernández’s work on Spanish varieties emphasizes that shared grammar does not erase regional preferences in vocabulary, rhythm, and interactional style.

In Spain, /dezˈlweɣo/ is especially familiar in daily speech. In much of Latin America, /ˈklaɾo/ and /poɾ suˈpwesto/ are often the most universal choices.

In Mexico, sí, claro /si ˈklaɾo/ is a common, agreeable response. In Argentina and Uruguay, obvio /ˈoβjo/, meaning “obviously,” can function like “of course” among friends, although it is more informal and can sound blunt in a professional setting.

Avoid assuming that a phrase is exclusive to one country. The goal is not to imitate a stereotype, but to recognize local patterns and choose language that matches the relationship and setting. For more on country-level differences, see our guide to Spanish-speaking countries.

Common mistakes English speakers make

Translating “of course” too literally

Do not try to build a phrase from English word order. Expressions such as /poɾ suˈpwesto/ and /dezˈlweɣo/ work as complete units. Learn them as ready-made responses.

Using formal phrases with close friends every time

/Natuɾalˈmente/ is correct, but repeated use can make a relaxed chat sound like a speech. Default to /ˈklaɾo/ with friends unless you have a reason to add emphasis.

Forgetting that agreement can be sarcastic

A speaker can say /ˈklaɾo/ sarcastically, just as an English speaker can say “of course.” Watch facial expression, pacing, and the situation before deciding that a response is sincere.

Confusing agreement with permission

If someone asks ¿Puedo pasar? /ˈpweðo paˈsaɾ/, “May I come in?”, /ˈklaɾo/ works. But if you want to be especially welcoming, adelante /aðeˈlante/, “come in,” is often the more useful response.

Practice with real answers

Read each question, pause, then choose the reply that fits best.

1. ¿Me ayudas con esta maleta? /me aˈʝuðas koŋ ˈesta maˈleta/, “Can you help me with this suitcase?”
   Claro, con gusto. /ˈklaɾo koŋ ˈɡusto/

2. ¿Podemos hablar mañana? /poˈðemos aˈβlaɾ maˈɲana/, “Can we talk tomorrow?”
   Por supuesto. /poɾ suˈpwesto/

3. ¿Cree que es una buena decisión? /ˈkɾee ke es ˈuna ˈβwena ðesiˈsjon/, “Do you think it is a good decision?”
   Desde luego. /dezˈlweɣo/

4. ¿Me trae otra servilleta, por favor? /me ˈtɾae ˈotɾa seɾˈβʝeta poɾ faˈβoɾ/, “Could you bring me another napkin, please?”
   Cómo no. /ˈkomo no/

5. ¿Vienes a mi fiesta? /ˈbjenes a mi ˈfjesta/, “Are you coming to my party?”
   Claro que sí. /ˈklaɾo ke si/

Once you have these responses, pair them with key social phrases such as goodbye in Spanish and I love you in Spanish. Small, high-frequency responses are what make conversations feel smooth rather than memorized.

The simple rule to remember

Use claro /ˈklaɾo/ when you need a natural everyday “of course.” Choose por supuesto /poɾ suˈpwesto/ when you want a more deliberate yes, desde luego /dezˈlweɣo/ for firm agreement, and cómo no /ˈkomo no/ to sound especially helpful.

The words matter, but your tone matters just as much. Learn each phrase in real scenes, notice who is speaking to whom, and your Spanish agreement will quickly sound more natural.