How to Say “Oh Cool” in Spanish

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¡ah, qué genial!
/ˈa ˈke xeˈnjal/word by word
The English phrase "oh cool" can be translated into Spanish as ¡ah, qué genial!
This phrase is used to express enthusiastic approval or interest in something someone has just said.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of the interjection ah (oh), the adverb qué (how/what) and the adjective genial (cool/great).

Which one should you use?

In casual speech, the interjection ah is often dropped, leaving just ¡qué genial! to convey the same meaning.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

While widely understood, ¡ah, qué genial! is an informal expression and is best suited for casual conversations with friends or peers. Other informal options include ¡Guay!, ¡Qué chulo! and ¡Está de lujo!

Is it said differently in some regions?

Spanish speakers use different terms for "cool" depending on the region. In Spain, you can use ¡Qué guay! for "How cool!" or ¡Mola! for "That rocks!" In Mexico, ¡Chido! means "Cool!", ¡Padrísimo! means "Super cool!" and ¡Está de pelos! means "It's awesome!" In Argentina, you can say ¡Qué copado! to mean "How cool!"

How do you pronounce it?

/ˈa ˈke xeˈnjal/

Did you know?

  • If you are in Mexico, saying Está de pelos to mean something is 'cool' might confuse a newcomer. While it translates literally to 'It is of hairs', it is a very common slang expression for 'It is awesome'.
  • The word mola used in Spain comes from the verb molar, which historically referred to a millstone, but now describes something that 'rocks'.
  • Using ¡Qué chulo! to express that something is 'cool' can change meaning based on the country. In many places it means 'How cute' or 'How cool', but in some contexts or regions, it can also be used to describe a person who is arrogant or a 'show-off'.

Examples in context

  • ¡Me han dado entradas para el concierto! ¡Guay!
    I've been given tickets to the concert! Cool!
  • Ha comprado un coche nuevo. ¡Qué chulo!
    He bought a new car. How cool!

Example conversation

Sofía tells Javier about her new job.

  1. Sofía

    Javier, conseguí el trabajo que quería.
    Javier, I got the job I wanted.
  2. Javier

    ¡Ah, qué genial! Muchas felicidades, Sofía.
    Oh cool! Congratulations, Sofía.
  3. Sofía

    Gracias, estoy muy emocionada.
    Thanks, I am very excited.
  4. Javier

    Tenemos que celebrar pronto.
    We have to celebrate soon.

Sources

  • IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ah, qué, genial) and can differ in connected speech.
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Wendy Yvonne
Wendy YvonneHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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