él es tan guapo
/el es tan ɡwapo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "he is so handsome" is expressed in Spanish as él es tan guapo.
This phrase is used to state that a man is very physically attractive. You can also use related phrases to vary your meaning: Él es tan atractivo means "He is so attractive," Él es tan hermoso means "He is so beautiful," Él es realmente atractivo means "He is really attractive," and Él es increíblemente hermoso means "He is incredibly beautiful."
Which one should you use?
While él es tan guapo translates to "he is so handsome" (often used for emphasis or comparison), él es muy guapo is the standard way to say "he is very handsome." Additionally, you can say Él es muy guapo to mean "He is very handsome."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the word galán is often used to refer to a handsome man.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the subject pronoun él is often omitted because the verb conjugation es already implies the third-person singular. For example, you can simply say es tan guapo to mean "he is so handsome."
How do you pronounce it?
/el es tan ɡwapo/
Did you know?
- The word guapo has a surprising history, originally meaning a 'rascal' or 'ruffian' before it evolved to describe physical beauty.
- In some contexts, guapo can be used to describe someone who is brave or daring, rather than just physically attractive.
- In certain Spanish dialects, calling someone guapo can be used sarcastically to imply they are overconfident or arrogant.
Examples in context
- Él es un hombre muy guapo.He is a very handsome man.
- Qué apuesto es.How handsome he is.
- Es realmente atractivo.He is really attractive.
- Mira a ese actor, él es tan guapo.Look at that actor, he is so handsome.
Example conversation
María and Daniel are looking at a photo of a friend.
- MaríaMira la foto de Juan, ¡él es tan guapo!Look at the photo of Juan, he is so handsome!
- DanielSí, tiene una sonrisa muy bonita.Yes, he has a very beautiful smile.
- MaríaEs el chico más atractivo que conozco.He is the most attractive guy I know.
- DanielEstoy de acuerdo contigo, María.I agree with you, María.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, guapo, tan, él, CC BY-SA 4.0.
