valiente
/baˈljente/
The Spanish word for brave is valiente.
Valiente is an adjective used to describe someone who is strong in the face of fear.
Meaning: strong in the face of fear (adj)
Which one should you use?
While valiente is the standard term, you might use intrépido to emphasize that someone is fearless or daring or heroico to describe courageous acts of heroism. In informal settings, you can use agallas (literally meaning guts) or corajudo to describe someone who is gutsy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective valiente changes to valientes to match plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/baˈljente/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly use bravo when they mean brave. However, bravo typically means 'wild' or 'fierce' and is also used as an exclamation of approval.
Did you know?
- The expression tener agallas uses the word for 'gills'. To be gutsy in Spanish is to literally 'have gills', implying you can breathe and survive in suffocating or high-pressure situations.
- The word valiente is closely linked to the verb valer, which means 'to be worth'. In a linguistic sense, being brave in Spanish is tied to having personal value or strength.
- In many Spanish dialects, bravo is used specifically to describe the sea when it is rough or stormy. A 'brave' ocean is one that is dangerous and violent.
Examples in context
- Él es muy valiente.He is very brave.This sentence shows how to use valiente to describe a person's character.Tatoeba #1471140 by marcelostockle, translation #291595 by CK
- Usted es muy valiente.You are very brave.This sentence demonstrates using valiente with the formal 'you'.Tatoeba #588014 by Shishir, translation #16474 by CK
- Es usted muy valiente.You're very brave.This sentence shows an alternative word order using valiente with the formal 'you'.Tatoeba #1678616 by termito2nd, translation #2218476 by CK
- Ella es una mujer muy valienteShe is a very brave woman
- El alpinista es un hombre intrépidoThe mountaineer is a fearless man
- El caudillo condujo a su ejército con valentíaThe leader guided his army with bravery
- Tuvo las agallas para enfrentar el desafíoHe had the guts to face the challenge
- El niño fue muy corajudo al enfrentar su miedoThe child was very brave in facing his fear
- El soldado mostró valentía en el campo de batallaThe soldier showed bravery on the battlefield
- Ella es una chica valiente por enfrentar sus miedosShe is a brave girl for facing her fears
- 65 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are talking about a movie character.
- MaríaEl protagonista es muy valiente.The protagonist is very brave.
- AlejandroSí, no tiene miedo a nada.Yes, he is not afraid of anything.
- MaríaMe gustaría ser así de valiente.I would like to be that brave.
- AlejandroTú también eres valiente, María.You are also brave, María.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry valiente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
