Por Gil |

I am interested in finding more information on the word "Vale" and its origin. I can remember hearing the word "vale" around the house. The word "vale" is used when referring to someone.
I do not want to confuse anyone with the way that the spanish use the word vale. Correct me if I'm wrong, for the spanish, it means something like "OK" or "de acuerdo". An example of its use in Jalisco would be: Qvo le Vale, Andale Vale, Mira Vale, Ese Vale. Some people use it more than others but I have noticed that people from Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa seem to use it the most.
I also remember hearing the word used like the way we use it in Venezuelan Novelas. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070627102059AAseGtR

I can't imagine the word being a slang word. Your input greatly appreciated.

Alejandra Varela.... I agree with the other comments i think is use to refer just a friend.. in Poncitlan Jalisco was the first place i heard it... they say it a LOT there..

Gilberto,

Mr. Navarro is correct, it means..."Valedor"(Friend), I migth be wrong, but as far as I know, the word "Vale" is very much used in Michoacan, I never heard anyone from Jalisco, Sinaloa or Nayarit used it, but then there could be execptions. I grew up in the Cienega Michoacana region, near La Barca Jalisco (which belongs to the Cienega Jaliciense region, south of Los Altos region) and I remember some people refer to others as "Vale"; also "Primo" & "Compa" are very common in that region.

Saludos,
Roberto Hdez

I have never heard friends or family from Jalisco say Quiubole Vale, Ándale Vale, Mira Vale, or Ese Vale.

It does seem to be a very rare slang word. It doesn't even show up in dictionaries of Mexicanismos, Modismos Mexicanos, or Terminos Mexicanos.

Armando

If it is used when referring to someone, I guess it might be an abbreviation of "valedor" (according to the RAE dictionary, someone who protects someone else), which was a synonym of "friend", "dude", etc. in Mexico City I would say probably around the 1950's. I think it appears in the films by Pedro Infante, Tin-Tan, etc.(soy tu valedor).

It is indeed also a synonym of OK. Spaniards say just "vale" and Mexicans "sale y vale".

It also may mean someone doesn't care or give a damn, as in "me vale", "le vale", being an abbreviation of the phrase with the word "madres" at the end, which in this case is used as a synonym of "something insignificant".

Victoriano Navarro

Genealogy Research