Spanish - Agreement and Disagreement

Lesson 31 of 159

Two friends practicing Spanish phrases for agreement and disagreement in a café, learning useful opinion phrases.

Goal: Say your opinion politely, agree a little, or disagree with tact

Free Spanish lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome! In this lesson we'll practice short, natural ways to agree and disagree in Spanish. Say the phrases out loud, listen to a short conversation, then practice with quizzes and speaking prompts.

Level A2: In this lesson you'll learn useful phrases to partly agree, politely disagree, and offer a different opinion (e.g., "Estoy de acuerdo en parte", "Me temo que no estoy de acuerdo"). This CEFR-aligned practice focuses on everyday conversation moves so you can respond with tact and clarity.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use polite disagreement and partial agreement phrases in spoken Spanish.
  • Practice saying short frames to accept a point, add a contrast, or offer a different view.
  • Build confidence for real conversations at level A2.
Students listen and repeat polite agreement and disagreement phrases in Spanish during a friendly lesson about opinions.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Tal vez, pero ___.

Maybe, but ___.

Meaning: Maybe, but ___.

When to use: Use this to show you're unsure or to introduce a contrasting idea after allowing some possibility.

Tal vez, pero no es tan simple.
Maybe, but it's not that simple.
Tal vez, pero debemos considerar el presupuesto.
Maybe, but we should consider the budget.

No estoy tan seguro de eso.

I'm not sure about that.

Meaning: I'm not sure about that.

When to use: A soft way to disagree or express doubt about a claim.

Tip: Beginners sometimes translate literally and sound too direct; use this to be softer.

No estoy tan seguro de eso; los datos no son claros.
I'm not so sure about that; the data aren't clear.
No estoy tan seguro de eso; puede haber otra explicación.
I'm not so sure about that; there may be another explanation.

Yo lo veo diferente.

I see it differently.

Meaning: I see it differently.

When to use: Use this to state a different opinion clearly and briefly.

Yo lo veo diferente: creo que debemos esperar.
I see it differently: I think we should wait.
Yo lo veo diferente; prefiero una solución más simple.
I see it differently; I prefer a simpler solution.

Estoy de acuerdo en parte.

I partly agree.

Meaning: I partly agree.

When to use: Say this when you accept part of an idea but not everything.

Estoy de acuerdo en parte; la idea funciona en teoría.
I partly agree; the idea works in theory.
Estoy de acuerdo en parte, pero faltan detalles prácticos.
I partly agree, but practical details are missing.

Estoy de acuerdo con ___, pero ___.

I agree about ___, but ___ .

Meaning: I agree about ___, but ___.

When to use: Use this to accept a specific point while adding a limiting or contrasting idea.

Estoy de acuerdo con la prioridad, pero necesitamos más tiempo.
I agree about the priority, but we need more time.
Estoy de acuerdo con el plan, pero el presupuesto es un problema.
I agree about the plan, but the budget is a problem.

Eso tiene sentido.

That sounds right.

Meaning: That sounds right.

When to use: Say this when a point seems reasonable and you accept it.

Si reducen el precio, eso tiene sentido.
If they lower the price, that makes sense.
Eso tiene sentido; así evitamos riesgos innecesarios.
That makes sense; that way we avoid unnecessary risks.

Sí y no

Yes and no.

Meaning: Yes and no.

When to use: Use for mixed responses when some parts are true and others aren't.

¿Funciona? —Sí y no; depende de la situación.
Does it work? —Yes and no; it depends on the situation.
¿Te gustó la película? —Sí y no, el final fue confuso.
Did you like the movie? —Yes and no, the ending was confusing.

Tengo que decir que no estoy de acuerdo.

I have to disagree.

Meaning: I have to disagree.

When to use: A polite but clear way to say you don't agree.

Tengo que decir que no estoy de acuerdo con esa conclusión.
I have to say I disagree with that conclusion.
Lo siento, pero tengo que decir que no estoy de acuerdo.
Sorry, but I have to disagree.

Me temo que no estoy de acuerdo.

I'm afraid I disagree.

Meaning: I'm afraid I disagree.

When to use: A softer, polite disagreement useful in formal or careful speech.

Tip: Don't overuse in casual talk; it's slightly more formal.

Me temo que no estoy de acuerdo con esa propuesta por ahora.
I'm afraid I disagree with that proposal for now.
Me temo que no estoy de acuerdo; hay datos contrarios.
I'm afraid I disagree; there is contrary data.

Eso no siempre es cierto.

That's not always true.

Meaning: That's not always true.

When to use: Use to point out that a general statement has exceptions.

Eso no siempre es cierto; en casos pequeños cambia la respuesta.
That's not always true; in small cases the answer changes.
Eso no siempre es cierto; hay excepciones claras.
That's not always true; there are clear exceptions.

Tengo una opinión diferente.

I have a different opinion.

Meaning: I have a different opinion.

When to use: A neutral, direct way to signal you will express another view.

Tengo una opinión diferente: creo que debemos intentar otra cosa.
I have a different opinion: I think we should try something else.
Tengo una opinión diferente y quiero explicarla.
I have a different opinion and I want to explain it.

Entiendo, pero ___.

I understand, but ___ .

Meaning: I understand, but ___.

When to use: Show you understand the other side before adding a contrasting point.

Entiendo, pero necesitamos más pruebas antes de decidir.
I understand, but we need more proof before deciding.
Entiendo, pero eso puede ser costoso en la práctica.
I understand, but that may be costly in practice.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Office discussion about a new plan

A short conversation in Spanish between two people using partial agreement and polite disagreement phrases.

Do Anna and David fully agree on the plan?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Estoy de acuerdo en parte; el plan tiene buenas ideas.

I partly agree; the plan has good ideas.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Yo lo veo diferente. Creo que falta presupuesto.

I see it differently. I think the budget is missing.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Eso tiene sentido, pero podemos ajustar recursos.

That makes sense, but we can adjust resources.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Me temo que no estoy de acuerdo con ajustar tanto.

I'm afraid I disagree with adjusting that much.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Tal vez, pero necesitamos un plan realista.

Maybe, but we need a realistic plan.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Sí y no. Algunas partes valen la pena, otras no.

Yes and no. Some parts are worthwhile, others are not.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase politely expresses clear disagreement?

Which phrase means 'I see it differently'?

Which phrase would you use to accept one point but add a restriction?

Which phrase signals that a general statement has exceptions?

Anna: I like the idea of working fewer hours. David: I partly agree. But we need to pay the bills.

Anna: Me gusta la idea de trabajar menos horas. David: ___. Pero necesitamos pagar las cuentas.

At the meeting, Juan said the project has no risks. Marta: I'm not so sure about that — there are problems we didn't see.

Durante la reunión, Juan dijo que el proyecto no tiene riesgos. Marta: ___. —hay problemas que no vimos.

—Do you think everyone should go to the event? —Yes and no. It depends on each person's schedule.

—¿Crees que todos deben ir al evento? —___. Depende del horario de cada uno.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Tal vez, pero ___.

Maybe, but ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

No estoy tan seguro de eso.

I'm not sure about that.

Say this phrase out loud:

Yo lo veo diferente.

I see it differently.

Say this phrase out loud:

Estoy de acuerdo en parte.

I partly agree.

Say this phrase out loud:

Estoy de acuerdo con ___, pero ___.

I agree about ___, but ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Eso tiene sentido.

That sounds right.

Say this phrase out loud:

Sí y no

Yes and no.

Say this phrase out loud:

Tengo que decir que no estoy de acuerdo.

I have to disagree.

Say this phrase out loud:

Me temo que no estoy de acuerdo.

I'm afraid I disagree.

Say this phrase out loud:

Eso no siempre es cierto.

That's not always true.

Say this phrase out loud:

Tengo una opinión diferente.

I have a different opinion.

Say this phrase out loud:

Entiendo, pero ___.

I understand, but ___.