Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| hermoso | /eɾˈmoso/ |
| bello | /ˈbeʝo/ |
| bel | /ˈbel/ |
These words are used to describe someone or something that is attractive.
Which one should you use?
While hermoso is a common way to say beautiful, bello is often used in more formal, literary or artistic contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
bello is often used in more formal, literary or artistic contexts. For an informal way to compliment a girl by saying 'You look lovely', you can use the phrase Qué Linda Estás.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the expression Estás guapa is a popular way to say 'You look pretty.'
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. For example, use the feminine form hermosa for feminine nouns and the masculine plural form hermosos for masculine nouns or mixed groups. Similarly, bellos is the masculine plural form of bello.
How do you pronounce it?
/eɾˈmoso/
Did you know?
- In certain Spanish dialects, hermoso can be used sarcastically to describe something that is actually very ugly or a situation that is disastrous.
- The word guapa is so common in Spain that it is often used as a friendly greeting for women in shops or markets, regardless of whether the speaker is complimenting them.
- Because bello comes from Old Occitan, it highlights how medieval Spanish was heavily influenced by the languages used in the courts of Southern France.
Examples in context
- La vida es bella.Life is beautiful.This sentence uses bel.Tatoeba #2936 by Shishir, translation #1829 by CK
- El agua es bella.The water is beautiful.Tatoeba #5439765 by mferrer0000, translation #5395101 by Hybrid
- Es un día hermoso.It's a beautiful day.This sentence uses hermoso.Tatoeba #1359807 by marcelostockle, translation #318150 by CK
- Eres hermosa, señorita.You are beautiful, miss.
- 362 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and María are at an art gallery.
- MaríaEste cuadro es muy hermoso.This painting is very beautiful.
- JavierTienes razón, María, es hermoso.You are right, María, it is beautiful.
- María¿Te gusta el color azul?Do you like the blue color?
- JavierSí, es un tono muy hermoso.Yes, it is a very beautiful tone.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beautiful” translations and entries hermoso, bello, bel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bel, bello, hermoso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
