Which one should you use?
The word bella also means beautiful but often carries a more poetic or literary connotation. If you are describing a young child rather than a young woman, you should use una niña es hermosa instead of using chica.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word guapa can be used as a slightly more colloquial and informal alternative to hermosa when describing someone as good-looking or pretty. Additionally, the phrase Estás bonita is an informal way to say 'You look pretty'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, people tend to use the word 'linda' instead of 'hermosa' to say 'beautiful'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective hermosa must be feminine to agree with the feminine noun chica.
How do you pronounce it?
/una tʃika es eɾmosa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the masculine form hermoso when describing a girl, such as in the phrase una chica es hermoso, as this is grammatically incorrect.
Did you know?
- While hermosa means 'beautiful', the word guapa can also mean 'brave' or 'bold' in certain contexts or historical dialects.
- In Spain, it is common to use guapa as a friendly term of endearment when addressing a female friend or a waitress, even if it is not intended as a romantic compliment.
- The word es used in this phrase is a direct cognate of the English word 'is', as both share a common ancestor in the Proto-Indo-European word h₁ésti.
Examples in context
- Siempre digo que una chica es hermosa si sonríe.I always say that a girl is beautiful if she smiles.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, una, CC BY-SA 4.0.
