Spanish is a moody language. It isn't just about the words; it’s about the vibe, the attitude, and whether you’re actually annoyed or just being chill. If you’ve ever tried to figure out how do you say whatever in Spanish, you probably realized pretty quickly that a single dictionary entry won't cut it.
Context is everything. Seriously.
If you’re sitting in a cafe in Madrid and your friend asks if you want a latte or a flat white, saying "whatever" requires a totally different word than if you’re arguing with a sibling in Mexico City and want to shut them down. One is polite indifference; the other is a verbal eye-roll.
Language learners often get stuck using lo que sea for everything. It works, sure. But it makes you sound like a textbook. If you want to sound like a human being who actually knows the language, you need to understand the nuances of things like como sea, da igual, and the infamous me da lo mismo.
The Bread and Butter: Lo Que Sea
This is the gold standard. If you are panicked and need a word right now, lo que sea is your safest bet. It literally translates to "that which it may be."
It’s versatile.
You can use it when choosing a movie. You can use it when someone asks what you want for dinner. It’s the direct answer to "what."
- "¿Qué quieres comer?" (What do you want to eat?)
- "Lo que sea." (Whatever.)
But here is the catch: it’s grammatically tied to the subjunctive mood (sea). This matters because it implies uncertainty. You aren't being specific because it genuinely doesn't matter to you.
However, don't use it to mean "anyway." That’s a common trap. If you’re trying to change the subject or move a story along, lo que sea will make people look at you funny. For that, you’ll want something else entirely.
When You Just Don't Care: Da Igual and Me Da Lo Mismo
If you’ve spent any time in Spain, you’ve heard da igual. It is everywhere. It’s the ultimate "it doesn't matter" or "it’s all the same to me."
It’s a bit more dismissive than lo que sea.
Imagine you’re trying to decide between taking the bus or the subway. Both take twenty minutes. You’d say, "Da igual." It’s efficient. It’s punchy. It’s very "Spanish."
Then there’s me da lo mismo. This is a slightly more formal—but still very common—way of saying the same thing. It’s popular across Latin America. It literally means "it gives me the same." It’s less about the thing itself and more about your internal state of indifference. Honestly, it’s a great phrase to have in your back pocket for when you’re being indecisive but want to sound sophisticated about it.
The Regional Flavors
Now, if we’re talking about Mexico, we have to talk about equis.
Yes, like the letter X.
"Es equis." (It’s whatever/it’s mediocre/it’s not a big deal.)
This is very slangy. You wouldn’t say this to your boss unless your boss is incredibly cool. It’s youthful. It carries a certain "I couldn't care less" energy that lo que sea just can't touch. If someone tells you a story about a guy they met and you weren't impressed, you might just shrug and say, "Equis."
In Argentina, you might hear me da igual but with that distinct sh sound on the "yo" and "me" pronouns. The rhythm changes, but the sentiment remains. Indifference is universal, but the flavor is local.
Using Whatever to Change the Subject
Sometimes we use "whatever" as a transition.
"Whatever, I'm going anyway."
In this case, you’re looking for como sea or en fin.
Como sea is great for "anyway" or "in any case." It’s the bridge between two thoughts. If you’ve been rambling about why your car broke down and you just want to get to the point, you say como sea.
En fin is more like "anywho" or "well, anyway." It signals that you’re wrapping up a thought. It’s the linguistic equivalent of slapping your knees and standing up to leave a room.
The Rude "Whatever" (The Verbal Eye-Roll)
Let's be real. Sometimes you want to be a little bit of a jerk.
When you want to say "whatever" to dismiss someone because you’re annoyed, you shouldn't use the polite phrases above. You need something with some teeth.
In many places, ¡Qué más da! works. It’s like saying "What does it matter anyway?!" with a heavy dose of frustration.
If you want to be even more blunt, there’s a mí me vale. In Mexico, this is very common, but be careful—depending on what you add to the end of that sentence, it can go from "I don't care" to "I don't give a [redacted]" very quickly.
Then there is como digas.
"Whatever you say."
This is the ultimate passive-aggressive "whatever." You aren't agreeing with the person. You’re just stopping the conversation because you’re done with their nonsense. It’s cold. It’s effective. It’s exactly what you need when you’ve lost an argument but won't admit it.
Technical Nuance: Why Grammar Matters Here
You can't just plug these into a translator and hope for the best. Spanish is a high-context language.
Think about the difference between these two:
- Lo que quieras (Whatever you want)
- Como quieras (However you want / Whatever you say)
If your partner asks where to go for vacation and you say como quieras with a flat tone, you might be starting a fight. It sounds dismissive. If you say lo que quieras, it sounds like you’re open to their suggestions.
The use of the subjunctive mood here—the eras ending—is vital. It’s the mood of possibility. You’re leaving the door open for the other person to decide. If you accidentally used the indicative (como quieres), you’d be making a statement about how they currently want something, which makes no sense in this context.
It’s these tiny shifts in vowels that change the entire emotional weight of the word.
Real-World Examples from Pop Culture
Look at Spanish-language Netflix shows like Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) or Elite. You’ll hear these phrases constantly.
In Elite, characters use da igual and me la suda (a very vulgar way of saying "I don't care" in Spain) to show their teenage rebellion. They aren't saying "lo que sea" because they aren't being polite. They’re being dramatic.
In contrast, in a show like The House of Flowers (La Casa de las Flores), which features a more Mexican dialect, you’ll hear the "equis" or the "lo que sea" used with that specific upper-class fresa lilt.
Watching these shows helps you hear the intonation. You can say the right word, but if your pitch is wrong, the meaning evaporates. Spanish is musical. "Whatever" can be a low note of boredom or a high note of defiance.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most English speakers try to translate "whatever" literally. They look up "what" (qué) and "ever" (siempre or nunca?) and come up with some Frankenstein’s monster of a phrase.
Don't do that.
Another mistake is overusing lo que sea. It’s a filler word. If you use it every three sentences, you sound like you don't have a vocabulary.
Also, watch out for cualquiera.
In English, "whatever" and "any" can sometimes overlap.
"Which shirt do you want?"
"Whatever one."
In Spanish, that’s cualquiera. If you say lo que sea there, it sounds like you want the concept of a shirt rather than a specific one from the pile. Cualquiera refers to "any one of a set."
Summary of Phrases
Instead of a boring table, let's just look at how these feel in your mouth.
- Lo que sea: The classic. Good for dinner choices and general indecision.
- Da igual: The Spanish (Spain) go-to. Fast, efficient, slightly bored.
- Me da lo mismo: The polite way to be indifferent. Very common in Latin America.
- Como sea: Use this when you mean "anyway" or "regardless."
- Equis: Use this with your friends in Mexico when something is underwhelming.
- Como digas: Use this when you’re annoyed and want the conversation to end.
How to Master the "Whatever"
The best way to get this right is to stop thinking in English.
Stop trying to find a 1:1 replacement for "whatever." Instead, identify the feeling you have. Are you bored? Are you flexible? Are you angry?
Once you identify the emotion, pick the phrase that matches.
Start small. The next time someone asks you a low-stakes question in Spanish—like whether you want red or white wine—don't just say "vino tinto." Say, "Lo que sea, me da igual."
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You’re layering phrases. You’re sounding more natural. You’re moving away from the "DuoLingo" version of yourself and toward the version of yourself that could actually survive a dinner party in Bogotá.
Actionable Next Steps
To truly internalize how to say whatever in Spanish, you need to hear it in the wild.
First, go to YouTube and search for "street interviews" in a specific city, like Madrid, Mexico City, or Buenos Aires. Listen for how people shrug off questions they don't care about. You’ll hear da igual or no sé, lo que sea far more often than you’ll see it in a textbook.
Second, pick one "whatever" phrase and commit to it for a week. Use da igual for everything. See how it feels. Then switch to como sea the following week. This "immersion by phrase" helps your brain categorize the subtle differences in usage without you having to memorize boring grammar rules.
Finally, pay attention to body language. A Spanish "whatever" is almost always accompanied by a specific gesture—usually a slight shrugging of the shoulders and a downward turn of the mouth. In Spain, it might include a small "pff" sound before the words.
Language is a full-body experience. If you just say the words without the attitude, you’re only halfway there. Practice the shrug. Practice the "pff." The words will follow.