buen hombre
/bwen ombɾe/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "good man" is buen hombre.
While it is a correct way to describe a man as being good, it is less common in casual conversation than the phrase buen tipo, which is typically used when you want to say someone is a "good guy".
Which one should you use?
While buen hombre refers to a man's character, buen hombre is less common in casual conversation than buen tipo when describing a "good guy".
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the adjective bueno is shortened to buen because it is placed immediately before a masculine singular noun.
Did you know?
- The word hombre is etymologically linked to the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'earthling', suggesting that the very concept of a 'man' is tied to being a 'being of the earth'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a man un buen hombre in a religious or formal setting implies he is 'saintly' or 'virtuous' rather than just a 'nice guy'.
Examples in context
- Es un buen hombre.He's a good man.Tatoeba #2258566 by hayastan, translation #2258565 by _undertoad
- Eres un buen hombre.You're a good man.Tatoeba #2042218 by Shishir, translation #1895635 by CK
- Tom es un buen hombre.Tom is a good man.Tatoeba #3443429 by Shishir, translation #3442431 by CK
- El señor Martínez es un verdadero caballero.Mr. Martinez is a true gentleman.
- Juan es un excelente hombre, siempre dispuesto a ayudar a los demás.Juan is a great man, always willing to help others.
- Mi vecino es un buen hombre, siempre amable y atento con todos.My neighbor is a good man, always kind and attentive to everyone.
- Pedro es una buena persona, siempre dispuesta a ayudar a los demás sin esperar nada a cambio.Pedro is a good man, always ready to help others without expecting anything in return.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are talking about a neighbor who helped them.
- LucíaÉl es un buen hombre.He is a good man.
- AlejandroSí, siempre ayuda a los demás.Yes, he always helps others.
- LucíaTu padre es un buen hombre.Your father is a good man.
- AlejandroMuchas gracias, Lucía.Thank you very much, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buen, hombre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
