Me vale todo

Question

Listening to the song "Me Vale" by Mana back in high school Spanish class, we were taught that "Me vale" meant "I don't care", and that it was Mexican slang. Also in the song was the phrase "ni modo", which we were told meant "whatever". If those terms are slang in "Mexican spanish", what is a more widely-recognized way to say these things? I know I can say "no me importa" to mean "I don't care", but what else is there?

Answer 1

Me vale todo : I am ok with everything, everything is fine with /for me.

In this case this me vale changes its meaning. Actually , in Spain it does not have the meaning of "I dont care" at all.

Welcome to the forum

Answer 2

I don´t care --> no me importa / Me importa un rábano / Me importa un comino / No me calienta / Me da lo mismo / No me va ni me viene / Me resbala.

whatever --->> como sea / como te parezca.

Answer 3

It's a context thing. In the song "Se Vale To'o" (todo), it means "everything goes" as in "everything's allowed." Now, valer means to be worth something in it's literal meaning, so it can be used in all kinds of ways. "Mas vale que te vayas"="You better leave." (literally, it's be more worth it for you to leave, etc.) "Me vales una madre"="you don't mean squat to me." "¿Cuánto vale tu carro?"= "how much is your car worth." It's a very versatile term.

As for ni modo, yeah it's Mexican but most understand it. Ie: "Man, I forgot to clean that up before I left." "Ni modo" = Oh well. "I should have worn a jacket, it's cold." "Ni modo."

Answer 4

"ni modo" = "no way" (as in "no way, José!)