What does vaya in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word vaya in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use vaya in Spanish.

The word vaya in Spanish means damn!, damn!, What a [noun]!, What an [noun]!, go, go, work, wear, go [+ gerund], be off, get to [+ gerund], go with, fit with, square with, go [+ gerund], be going to [+ infinitive], go to get, what a pain in the neck!, what a nerve!, what an ugly mug!, this is a disaster!, what a day!, what a dummy!, what a mess!, totally hammered!, totally smashed!, totally soused!, what a pair!, Most certainly!, Most definitely!, Of course I'll go!, I'll certainly go!, wherever you go, what a [+ noun], that's a [+ noun], what a mess, what a pair!, what a couple!, take care, good luck!, I hope it turns out well, I hope it turns out OK, wherever you go, no matter where you go, wherever you go, no matter where you go, go with God, What a piece of s***!, you call that a plan?, nothing at all!, boy!, aren't we lucky, what a mess!, who knows?, what a life, be one thing. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word vaya

damn!

interjección (informal (expresa sorpresa) (chagrin)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¡Vaya! ¡Se ha ido la luz!
Damn! The power has gone out!

damn!

interjección (informal (expresa desagrado)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¡Vaya! Y yo que pensé que eras mi amiga.
Damn! And I thought you were my friend.

What a [noun]!, What an [noun]!

locución interjectiva (informal (expresa ponderación)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¡Vaya auto el que me compré! ¡Vaya tonta! Otra vez olvidé cerrar la puerta.
What a car I bought myself! What a dummy! I forgot to lock the door again!

go

verbo intransitivo (dirigirse)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Este tren va a Madrid. Para llegar al museo, tienes que tomar el autobús que va hacia el sur.
This train goes to Madrid. To get to the museum, you have to take the bus that goes south.

go

verbo intransitivo (asistir)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Mis padres no me dejan ir a la fiesta. La clase de hoy estuvo muy interesante, pero mi compañera no pudo ir.
My parents won't let me go to the party. Today's class was very interesting, but my classmate couldn't go.

work

verbo intransitivo (informal (funcionar)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
El ordenador no va; tendré que llamar al técnico.
The computer isn't working. I'm going to have to call a technician.

wear

(llevar puesto)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Las azafatas tienen que ir de uniforme.
Stewardesses must wear a uniform.

go [+ gerund]

(futuro próximo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Esta tarde vamos a nadar en la piscina. Voy a comprarme unos zapatos de cuero.
I'm going to buy some leather shoes.

be off

verbo pronominal (marcharse) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ya me voy porque tengo que preparar la cena.
I'm off because I have to get dinner ready.

get to [+ gerund]

verbo intransitivo (acción progresiva)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Yo voy pelando las verduras mientras tú cortas la carne. Hay que ir pensando en el lanzamiento del nuevo producto.
We must get on with thinking about the launch of the new product.

go with, fit with, square with

(concordar, armonizar)

Menospreciar a los demás no va con mis ideas.
Undermining others doesn't fit (or: go) with my ideas.

go [+ gerund]

(ponerse a conjeturar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
No vayas a creer que no me gustó la carne; es que estoy muy llena.
Don't go thinking that I didn't like the meat. I'm just very full.

be going to [+ infinitive]

(intencionalidad)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Iba a salir, pero comenzó a llover y tuve que devolverme.
I was going to go out, but it started raining and I had to head back.

go to get

(ir a buscar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Voy por un pan al súper; ya vuelvo.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. I'm just nipping out the shops. Do you need anything?

what a pain in the neck!

expresión (ofensivo (insulto)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

what a nerve!

expresión (ofensivo (crítica por descaro) (US)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

what an ugly mug!

expresión (coloquial (qué mala cara) (figurative: face)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

this is a disaster!

expresión (queja por el resultado)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

what a day!

expresión (queja por mal día)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

what a dummy!

expresión (coloquial (que confuso estás)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

what a mess!

expresión (menudo desastre)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

totally hammered!, totally smashed!, totally soused!

expresión (coloquial (menuda borrachera) (US: very drunk)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

what a pair!

expresión (qué dos)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Carlos y Ana siempre están intercambiando miradas cómplices: ¡vaya par!

Most certainly!, Most definitely!

locución interjectiva (aprobación, afirmación)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
—¿Me veo bien con este vestido? —¡Vaya que sí!

Of course I'll go!, I'll certainly go!

expresión (resolución de ir)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

wherever you go

locución adverbial (a cualquier lugar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Juan tiene un nuevo perro que lo sigue adonde vaya.
Juan has a new dog who follows him around wherever he goes.

what a [+ noun], that's a [+ noun]

expresión (vaya)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
¡Pues vaya error has cometido!
What a mistake you've made!

what a mess

expresión (vaya lío)

¡Pues vaya follón en el que te has metido!
What a mess you've gotten yourself into!

what a pair!, what a couple!

expresión (menuda pareja)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¡Qué par de dos, son los dos unos tontos!
What a pair; they're both idiots!

take care

expresión (informal (al despedirse)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¡Que te vaya bien! Hasta la semana que viene.
Take care! See you next week!

good luck!

expresión (para desear buena suerte)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¡Que te vaya bien en el viaje, Pedro!
Good luck on your trip Pedro!

I hope it turns out well, I hope it turns out OK

expresión (que resulte bien)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Espero que vaya bien la venta de la casa.
I hope the sale of the house turns out well.

wherever you go, no matter where you go

expresión (no importa el lugar)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

wherever you go, no matter where you go

expresión (no importa dónde)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Vaya adonde vaya, siempre te recordaré. Puede llevar este práctico secador de pelo vaya donde vaya.
Wherever you go, I'll always remember you.

go with God

expresión (adiós) (farewell)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Que tenga un buen viaje; vaya con Dios.
Have a nice trip; go with God.

What a piece of s***!

locución interjectiva (vulgar (indica enojo, desagrado) (offensive)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¡Vaya mierda! Otra vez olvidé las llaves dentro de la casa.

you call that a plan?

interjección (qué mal plan)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

nothing at all!

locución interjectiva (enfatiza negación) (emphatic negation)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¡Vaya que no! No es nada fácil ser padre.
There's nothing easy about being a father. Not even a little bit!

boy!

locución interjectiva (informal (denota ponderación)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¡Vaya si disfrutamos el paseo! ¡Vaya que eres tonto, Pablo!
Boy, you're dumb, Pablo!

aren't we lucky

expresión (irónico (ser desafortunados)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
¡Vaya suerte la nuestra! Tenía que llover.
Aren't we lucky! It had to rain.

what a mess!

expresión (qué lío)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

who knows?

expresión (quién sabe)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

what a life

expresión (qué vida)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

be one thing

expresión (coloquial (ser tolerable)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Que te gusten los gatos, vaya y pase, pero ¿tienes 100?
You liking cats is one thing - but, you've got 100 of them?

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So now that you know more about the meaning of vaya in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

Do you know about Spanish

Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.