bonita
feminine, standard
To say a girl is pretty, Spanish uses bonita, the feminine form. Linda is very common in Latin America and guapa is the usual word in Spain. It is also called hermosa.
Meaning: pretty, said about a girl or woman (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| bonita | feminine, standard |
| linda | feminine, Latin America |
| guapa | feminine, Spain |
| hermosa | feminine, strong |
Bonita and linda are warm and safe compliments. Hermosa is stronger, closer to "beautiful". The adjective agrees with the girl, so it always ends in -a.
Which one should you use?
In Spanish a compliment like ¡Qué bonita! works for a dress or a girl, so the context matters. Bella is poetic and sounds literary.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Guapa is very common in Spain, even as a friendly address: Hola, guapa. In Mexico and Colombia linda is used more often.
Did you know?
- The word guapa is also used between friends as an affectionate address in Spain, with no romantic meaning.
Examples in context
- ¡Qué bonita eres!How pretty you are!
- Mi prima es muy linda.My cousin is very pretty.
- Está guapísima con ese vestido.She looks gorgeous in that dress.
Example conversation
Marcos and his friend Álex look at a family photo.
- Álex¿Quién es la chica del vestido azul?Who is the girl in the blue dress?
- MarcosEs mi prima Elena.It is my cousin Elena.
- ÁlexEs muy bonita.She is very pretty.
