Bolivian Spanish word
de una
Meaning: right away, at once (as a reply: an eager yes)
Where it is said: The Diccionario de americanismos records de una as popular usage in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Paraguay, and en una with the same meaning in Peru. Bolivia is not among the countries it marks; the lines on this page come from chats set in Bolivia.
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Start chapter 1 freeHow it is used in Bolivia
Everyday Bolivian enthusiasm, one notch warmer than 'dale'.
How to use it
On its own, as a reply to an invitation or an offer, de una is a yes given straight away. The chat lines below translate it as 'Absolutely' or 'for sure'.
It also goes at the end of a confirmation, after you have turned down another day: 'pero el sábado sí, de una'.
In these chats it sounds warmer and more excited than a plain 'dale'. Keep it for when you really mean yes, not for when you are just going along with the plan.
Examples
¡De una! El asado es una de mis comidas favoritas.
Absolutely! Asado is one of my favorite meals.
El miércoles no puedo, es que tengo algo, pero el sábado sí, de una.
I can't Wednesday, I've got something on, but Saturday, for sure.
Bienvenido/a de una, nos vemos el sábado.
Welcome straight away, see you Saturday.
A group admin welcoming a newcomer to the chat.
Buenísimo, así se entiende todo de una.
Excellent, that way everything's clear at once.
Here de una keeps its dictionary sense: at once.
A real exchange
A WhatsApp chat with Camila about her grandmother's 80th birthday lunch
You
¿Les ayudo con algo para la fiesta?
Can I help you all with anything for the party?
Camila
De una. Si podés venir un ratito antes a acomodar, buenísimo.
Absolutely. If you can come a bit earlier to set up, that'd be great.
Good to know
- Register
- Colloquial: the Diccionario de americanismos marks it as popular usage. The lines here are chats between friends and family.
- Not to be confused with
- Not every de una is the expression. In '¡De una! El asado es una de mis comidas favoritas.' the first de una is the expression, while 'una de mis comidas' is simply 'one of my meals'.
Questions people ask
What does de una mean in Spanish?
The Diccionario de americanismos defines it as 'al punto, sin dilación': at once, without delay.
Sources
What this page says beyond the chapters of the course comes from these sources.
- ASALE, Diccionario de americanismos: una (de una)accessed 21 October 2026
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