cosas bonitas
/kosas bonitas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "nice things" is translated into Spanish as cosas bonitas.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cosas (things) and bonitas (beautiful/pretty).
Which one should you use?
You can use cosas bellas to refer to nice things with a slightly more poetic or aesthetic tone. In many Latin American dialects, cosas lindas is a very common alternative to express the same idea.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you might hear Eres muy simpático/simpática (You are very nice) or Eres encantador/encantadora (You are charming). In many Latin American dialects, lindas is a very common alternative to bonitas for 'nice' or 'pretty'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the singular "nice thing," both the noun and the adjective must be singular: cosa bonita.
Did you know?
- While bonitas means 'nice' or 'pretty', the word bonito is also the name of a common species of tuna found in Spanish waters and Latin American coasts.
- In some Caribbean dialects, saying que cosa más bonita can be used sarcastically to describe something that is actually ugly or absurd.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, calling a person una cosa bonita can sound unexpectedly condescending or objectifying, as it treats the individual as an object rather than a person.
Examples in context
- Haz cosas bonitas viviendo como quieras.Do nice things living the way you want.This sentence shows how to use cosas bonitas in a context regarding how one lives.Tatoeba #11237664 by carlosalberto, translation #11237650 by carlosalberto
- Ella siempre me dice cosas bonitas.She always tells me nice things.
- Me gusta comprar cosas bonitas para la casa.I like to buy nice things for the house.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are browsing a gift shop.
- SofíaMira estas cosas bonitas de cristal.Look at these nice glass things.
- MateoSí, son muy elegantes, Sofía.Yes, they are very elegant, Sofía.
- Sofía¿Crees que este regalo es demasiado?Do you think this gift is too much?
- MateoNo, es un detalle muy especial.No, it is a very special detail.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
