What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cosas (things) and geniales (great/cool).
Which one should you use?
While cosas geniales is a standard way to express the idea, different regions use different adjectives to convey the sense of being "cool". For example, you might use cosas guays in Spain or cosas padres in Mexico.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Other options like cosas padres are considered slang.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Spanish speakers use many different words for "cool" depending on their location. In Spain, you will often hear cosas guays to mean cool or hip things. In Mexico, cosas padres is common slang. In some South American countries, bacán is used to mean cool or great. In Argentina, the word copado is used instead of the Latin American chévere.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because cosas is a feminine plural noun, the adjective must agree in number and gender. To change the phrase to the singular "cool thing", you must make both words singular: cosa genial. Note that while geniales is the same for both masculine and feminine, the plural agreement is required to match cosas.
When do people say it?
The way one says "cool" varies significantly across the Spanish-speaking world, from the slang chévere used in much of Latin America to the regional preference for bacán in parts of South America.
Did you know?
- The word guay used in Spain is believed by some linguists to have originated from the English word 'guy', used to describe the 'cool' or trendy look of British youths in the 1960s.
- In Mexico, the word padre normally means 'father', but when used as an adjective for 'cool things', it is invariant and does not change to padres to match the plural cosas.
- In Argentina, the word copado comes from the verb copar, which means to take over or occupy a space, suggesting that 'cool things' are those that capture your full attention.
Examples in context
- Tu habilidad para tocar la guitarra es increíbleYour guitar playing skills are incredible
- ¡Qué genial es tu nuevo coche!How cool is your new car!
- Esa película estuvo súper chévereThat movie was really cool
- El concierto estuvo bacánThe concert was cool
- ¡Esa canción mola!That song is cool!
- ¡Qué guay es tu nuevo peinado!Your new hairstyle is so cool!
- Él siempre hace cosas geniales.He always does cool things.
- En este museo hay cosas geniales.In this museum there are cool things.
- Ella tiene muchas cosas geniales en su cuarto.She has many cool things in her room.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are looking at a gift shop.
- LucíaMira, Javier, ¡hay cosas geniales aquí!Look, Javier, there are cool things here!
- JavierTienes razón, Lucía. Todo parece muy moderno.You're right, Lucía. Everything looks very modern.
- Lucía¿Quieres comprar algunas cosas geniales para nosotros?Do you want to buy some cool things for us?
- JavierSí, busquemos el mejor regalo.Yes, let's look for the best gift.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
