vaya
interjection
1. well!, wow!, oh no!
surprise, annoyance, or admiration
- ¡Vaya, qué sorpresa!Well, what a surprise!
- ¡Vaya! He perdido las llaves.Oh no! I've lost my keys.
- ¡Vaya por Dios, otra vez se ha roto!Oh dear, it's broken again!
2. what a!, such a!
emphasis before a noun or adjective
Common combinations
- vaya día — what a day
- vaya susto — what a fright
- vaya problema — what a problem
- ¡Vaya día tan largo!What a long day!
- ¡Vaya coche que se ha comprado!What a car he has bought!
- ¡Vaya susto me has dado!What a fright you gave me!
3. indeed, certainly + que / + si
colloquial · emphasis of a statement
Common combinations
- vaya si — certainly
- vaya que — it really is
- ¡Vaya si sabe cocinar!He certainly knows how to cook!
- ¡Vaya que merece la pena!It really is worth it!
- ¡Vaya que hemos tenido suerte!We've certainly been lucky!
Phrases with this word
vaya por Dios