Claro is one of the first words you pick up in Spanish — and for good reason. It’s easy, versatile, and perfectly natural. But if it’s the only way you express agreement or certainty, your Spanish can start to sound a little one-note.
Native speakers have a whole range of expressions for “of course,” each with its own flavour and register. Here are five alternatives to claro that will add real variety and confidence to your conversations.
1️⃣ Claro — Of course / Sure
The classic. Claro is friendly, casual, and works in almost any situation. It’s the default response for a reason — but think of it as your starting point, not your only option.
- — ¿Me ayudas un momento? — Claro, dime. — Can you help me for a moment? — Sure, go ahead.
- — ¿Vienes esta noche? — Claro, allí estaré. — Are you coming tonight? — Sure, I’ll be there.
2️⃣ Por supuesto — Of course
Polite, warm, and suitable for any situation. Por supuesto is the most universally safe alternative to claro — it works with friends, colleagues, strangers, and everyone in between.
- Por supuesto. Te ayudo mañana con el proyecto. – Of course. I’ll help you with the project tomorrow.
- — ¿Puedo sentarme aquí? — Por supuesto, está libre. — Can I sit here? — Of course, it’s free.
3️⃣ Desde luego — Of course / Certainly
Slightly more emphatic than por supuesto, this one carries a sense of conviction. Use it when you want to sound assured and decisive rather than just agreeable.
- Desde luego. Termino el informe hoy mismo. – Of course. I’ll finish the report today.
- — ¿Crees que tiene razón? — Desde luego, tiene toda la razón. — Do you think he’s right? — Absolutely, he’s completely right.
4️⃣ Sin duda — Definitely / Without a doubt
When there’s no hesitation whatsoever, sin duda is your expression. It’s confident, clean, and works just as well on its own as it does at the start of a longer sentence.
- Sin duda. Voy a pedir el menú del día. – Definitely. I’ll order the set menu.
- Sin duda es el mejor restaurante de la ciudad. – It’s without a doubt the best restaurant in the city.
5️⃣ Cómo no — Sure / Of course
This one has a warm, slightly old-fashioned charm to it. It’s widely used across Latin America and Spain alike, and sounds naturally obliging — like you’re more than happy to help.
- Cómo no. Llamo al médico ahora. – Of course. I’ll call the doctor now.
- — ¿Me puedes explicar cómo funciona? — Cómo no, con mucho gusto. — Can you explain to me how it works? — Of course, with pleasure.
6️⃣ Obvio — Obviously (informal)
The most casual of the six. Obvio is relaxed, a little cheeky, and best saved for friends and informal situations. It can sound dismissive if you’re not careful with tone — but used right, it’s very natural.
- Obvio, siempre llega tarde. – Obviously, he’s always late.
- — ¿Te gustó la fiesta? — Obvio, fue genial. — Did you enjoy the party? — Obviously, it was great.
Each of these expressions shows agreement — but they do it differently. Por supuesto is your safe, all-purpose choice; desde luego adds conviction; sin duda leaves no room for doubt; cómo no feels warm and willing; and obvio keeps things casual. Next time you catch yourself about to say claro, try one of these instead and see how it changes the feel of your response.
| Expression | English | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| Claro | Of course Sure | Informal/Neutral Spain & LatAm Safe in any context Very common |
| Por supuesto | Of course | Neutral Spain & LatAm Safe in any context Very common |
| Desde luego | Of course Certainly | Neutral/Slightly formal More common in Spain Emphatic / can show surprise Common |
| Sin duda | Definitely Without a doubt | Neutral Spain & LatAm More for statements/opinions Common |
| Cómo no | Of course Sure thing | Informal/Neutral Spain & LatAm Polite / friendly tone Common |
| Obvio | Obviously Yeah (casual) | Informal More common in LatAm Can sound blunt Use with caution |
🗣️ Shadowing Practice
Listen and repeat each phrase right after the speaker, focusing on pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. All sentences come from the examples above.