bonito
/boˈnito/
The English word 'pretty' is translated into Spanish as bonito. Wiktionary also lists guapo.
Meaning: especially of women and children: pleasant, attractive (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| bonito | /boˈnito/ |
| guapo | /ˈɡwapo/ |
In Spanish, these terms are used to describe someone or something as pleasant or attractive, particularly regarding women and children. While bonito can describe inanimate objects, places or people, guapo is used almost exclusively for people.
Which one should you use?
Use guapo when referring to the attractiveness of a person. Use bonito when describing the pleasant appearance of people, inanimate objects or locations.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the word majo/a is commonly used to mean 'nice' or 'lovely'. In some Latin American countries, pintón/a is used to mean 'good-looking'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun it describes. For example, use bonita for feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/boˈnito/
Did you know?
- If you call someone guapo in certain historical contexts, you might have been calling them a 'worthless person' due to its roots in the Latin word vappa, which referred to flat, spoiled wine.
- The word guapo had a much darker past when it used to mean 'rascal' or 'ruffian' before it evolved into a compliment about physical attractiveness.
- While English speakers use 'pretty' to mean 'fairly' or 'moderately', the Spanish bonito is strictly about aesthetic beauty and does not function as an adverb of degree.
Examples in context
- Tu pelo es bonito.Your hair is pretty.This sentence shows how to use bonito to describe hair.Tatoeba #1130119 by cueyayotl, translation #1130090 by cntrational
- Es bonito el lugar.The place is pretty.This sentence shows how to use bonito to describe a place.Tatoeba #4824090 by cueyayotl, translation #4823929 by whitefishglobal
- Mi teléfono es bonito.My telephone is pretty.This sentence shows how to use bonito to describe a telephone.Tatoeba #1102380 by Shishir, translation #1102513 by ajgajg1134
- El cuadro es hermoso.The painting is beautiful.
- ¡Qué bella canción!What a lovely song!
- Ella lucía deslumbrante en el evento.She looked ravishing at the event.
- Tienes un perro muy lindo.You have a very cute dog.
- ¡Qué bonito coche tienes!What a nice car you have!
- Él es muy guapo.He is very handsome.
- Él es bien pintón.He is very good-looking.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are at a clothing store.
- Javier¿Te gusta este vestido?Do you like this dress?
- LucíaSí, es muy bonito.Yes, it is very pretty.
- JavierTe verás muy bonita con él.You will look very pretty in it.
- LucíaGracias, eres muy amable.Thanks, you are very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pretty” translations and entries bonito, guapo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonito, guapo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
