él es muy guapo
/el es mui ɡwapo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'he's so fine' can be translated into Spanish as él es muy guapo.
This expression is used to describe a man who is very physically attractive.
Which one should you use?
While él es muy guapo is a standard way to say a man is handsome, it is slightly more formal or neutral than the English slang 'he's so fine'. Other informal options include Él está buenísimo to mean 'he is super hot', Está para comérselo for 'he is to die for' and Es un bombón for 'he is a piece of eye candy'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the verb es (from the verb *ser*) to describe a permanent or defining characteristic of the person's appearance.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use él está muy guapo with the verb *estar*. While this is understandable, the verb *ser* (es) is the standard way to describe physical traits like attractiveness.
Did you know?
- The term guapo may have originated from the Latin word vappa, which referred to 'flat wine' or a 'worthless person'.
- While guapo is standard for 'handsome' in Spain, in some Latin American countries it can be used to mean 'brave' or 'bold'.
- In Spanish, describing a man as está buenísimo literally means 'he is extremely good', using a word usually reserved for the taste of food.
Examples in context
- ¡Qué guapo! No puedo dejar de mirarlo.Wow, he's so handsome! I can't take my eyes off him.
- Mira a ese chico, él es muy guapo.Look at that guy, he's so fine.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are looking at photos on a phone.
- Lucía¡Mira este actor, él es muy guapo!Look at this actor, he's so fine!
- MateoSí, tiene una sonrisa perfecta.Yes, he has a perfect smile.
- LucíaMe encanta su estilo.I love his style.
- MateoTienes buen gusto, Lucía.You have good taste, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, guapo, muy, él, CC BY-SA 4.0.
