es lindo
/es lindo/from spelling rules
To say it is cute in Spanish, use es lindo.
es lindo describes something as cute or sweet. When you see something cute and want to exclaim, say ¡Qué lindo! instead.
Which one should you use?
es bonito is more general and means it is pretty or nice. Es precioso/preciosa. and Es encantador/encantadora. mean it is precious and it is charming.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, Es mono. is common for it is cute.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective agrees with the noun, so use es linda for a feminine noun. To say very cute, add the ending to get es lindísimo.
How do you pronounce it?
In IPA it is /es lindo/.
Did you know?
- While lindo is used across the Americas, people in Spain often use mono to say something is cute. In Spanish, mono literally means 'monkey', but in this context, it is a compliment.
- The word lindo might have originally meant 'legitimate' or 'lawful' in Old Spanish. Over time, its meaning evolved from 'proper' to 'pure' and eventually to the modern sense of 'cute'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a person lindo can be more emotionally intimate than calling them bonito. While bonito focuses on physical beauty, lindo often implies a sweetness of character.
Examples in context
- ¡Mira ese cachorrito! ¡Es adorable!Look at that puppy! It's adorable!
- Tu bebé es realmente mono.Your baby is really cute.
- La casa con ese jardín es encantadora.The house with that garden is cute/charming.
- Ese perro es lindo.That dog is cute.
- El dibujo es lindo.The drawing is cute.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are looking at a baby photo.
- Elena¿Viste la foto del bebé?Did you see the photo of the baby?
- DanielSí, el bebé es lindo.Yes, the baby is cute.
- Elena¡Es verdad! Es muy lindo.It's true! He is very cute.
- DanielMe encanta su sonrisa.I love his smile.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, lindo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
