bonita familia
/bonita familja/from spelling rules
The English phrase "nice family" can be translated into Spanish as bonita familia.
While bonita familia focuses on this pleasant nature, a different phrase, buena familia, would be used if you wanted to emphasize that a family has good values or a good reputation.
Which one should you use?
While bonita familia is a standard way to express the idea, the more common word order in Spanish for this specific phrase is familia bonita, placing the adjective after the noun.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you can use familia chida to express the idea of a nice family. In Argentina, familia piola conveys the same meaning. In Spain, several options exist: familia maja describes a nice family, while the informal expressions familia guay and familia chula are also used. Additionally, in Spain, familia estupenda is used to mean a "great family" when describing a nice one.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective bonita must agree in gender with the feminine noun familia.
Did you know?
- The word familia comes from the Latin term for the 'slave staff of a household'. In ancient Rome, it referred to everyone under the patriarch's authority, not just blood relatives.
- In Argentina, the word piola in familia piola originally referred to a type of string or rope, but evolved into slang for someone who is 'cool' or 'clever'.
- The Mexican slang word chida in familia chida is believed to have originated from 'pachuco' culture, a blend of Spanish and English spoken by Mexican Americans in the 1930s.
Examples in context
- Me gustaría conocer a su familia porque sé que es una familia agradable.I would like to meet your family because I know they are a nice family.
- Tuve la oportunidad de conocer a tu familia la semana pasada y son una familia muy amable.I had the opportunity to meet your family last week, and they are a very kind family.
- Conocí a tu familia ayer y ¡qué linda familia tienes!I met your family yesterday, and what a nice family you have!
- Siempre es un placer pasar tiempo con ustedes. Son una buena familia.It's always a pleasure spending time with you guys. You are a nice family.
- Tienen una bonita familia.They have a nice family.
- Tienes una bonita familia.You have a nice family.
- Es una bonita familia.It is a nice family.
- Ellos son una bonita familia.They are a nice family.
Example conversation
María and Daniel are looking at old photographs together.
- MaríaMira, esta es mi bonita familia.Look, this is my nice family.
- DanielSon todos muy simpáticos.They are all very friendly.
- MaríaSí, nos llevamos muy bien.Yes, we get along very well.
- DanielRealmente tienes una bonita familia, María.You really have a nice family, María.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries familia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
