Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| educado | /eduˈkado/ |
| cortés | /koɾˈtes/ |
| de buena educación | /de bwena edukaθjon/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /de bwena edukasjon/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
The words used for "polite" describe someone who is well-mannered.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase de buena educación literally translates to "of good education," but it is used idiomatically to mean "well-bred" or "polite."
Which one should you use?
The term educado refers to general good manners and upbringing. In contrast, cortés often implies a more formal or chivalrous level of politeness, such as being "courteous."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, using the formal usted is more common and expected, even in informal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective educado must agree in gender and number with the person being described. Use educada for a female, and use educados for a group of males or a mixed-gender group.
How do you pronounce it?
/eduˈkado/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistake educado for "educated" (meaning someone who has had formal schooling). In Spanish, educado primarily means "well-mannered" or "polite."
When do people say it?
Being polite in Spanish-speaking cultures often involves using specific respectful terms and phrases. For example, you can use Señor or Señora (Sir/Madam) and the formal version of "you," which is Usted. Common polite expressions include Por favor (Please), Gracias (Thank you), Muchas gracias (Thank you very much) and Te agradezco mucho (I'm very grateful to you). Greetings such as Buenos días (Good morning), Buenas tardes (Good afternoon) and Buenas noches (Good evening/night) are also standard. To be especially polite when asking for things, you might use phrases like ¿Puedes repetir eso, por favor? (Can you repeat that, please?), ¿Me podrías explicar más detalladamente? (Could you explain it to me in more detail?), ¿Podrías ayudarme? (Could you help me?) or ¿Sería posible…? (Would it be possible…?).
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, it is considered more educado to decline a first offer of food or drink before eventually accepting.
- The word cortés shares its roots with the English word 'court', as it originally described the refined behavior expected within a royal court.
- The term educar can mean both 'to teach' and 'to raise' a child, linking the concept of teaching knowledge directly to the concept of teaching manners.
Examples in context
- No soy muy cortés.I'm not very polite.This sentence is useful for expressing a lack of politeness using cortés.Tatoeba #5052899 by don_ramon, translation #2488938 by Hybrid
- Por favor, sé educado.Please be polite.This sentence is a command to be polite using educado.Tatoeba #634733 by Shishir, translation #476852 by CK
- Tom no es muy educado.Tom isn't very polite.This sentence describes someone else as not being very polite using educado.Tatoeba #3999534 by hayastan, translation #3733567 by CK
- María es una persona muy educada.María is a very polite person.
- Fue muy cortés de su parte abrir la puerta.It was very polite of you to open the door.
- Laura siempre es muy amable con todos.Laura is always very polite with everyone.
- Juan es muy amable cuando habla.Juan is very polite when he speaks.
- Los niños fueron muy educados durante la fiesta.The children were very polite during the party.
- 48 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are talking about a new coworker.
- SofíaEl nuevo empleado es muy educado.The new employee is very polite.
- DanielSí, siempre saluda a todos.Yes, he always greets everyone.
- SofíaEs agradable trabajar con alguien así.It is nice to work with someone like that.
- DanielTienes razón, Daniel es muy amable.You are right, Daniel is very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “polite” translations and entries educado, cortés, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cortés, de, educación, educado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
