ella es bonita
/eʝa es bonita/from spelling rules
The English phrase "she is pretty" is translated into Spanish as ella es bonita.
This phrase is used to say that a female person is attractive.
Which one should you use?
While bonita implies a sense of prettiness or sweetness, guapa is often used to describe someone who is more striking or physically attractive. Additionally, there is a distinction in how the verb is used: Ella está guapa implies that she looks good or attractive in the moment, whereas Ella está bonita means 'She looks pretty.'
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations include Ella es chula and Ella es guapa in Mexico, and Ella es divina in Argentina.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective bonita must end in a to agree with the feminine subject ella.
How do you pronounce it?
/eʝa es bonita/
Did you know?
- In certain parts of Spain, using bonita to describe a woman can actually come across as patronizing or condescending, similar to calling someone a 'pretty girl'.
- The English word 'is' and the Spanish word es share the same ancient ancestor, the Proto-Indo-European verb stem *h₁ésti. This means they are distant linguistic cousins.
- While bonita describes a person's beauty, it is also the standard word used to describe 'cute' inanimate objects or small animals.
Examples in context
- Sé que ella es bonita.I know that she is pretty.This sentence shows how to express knowledge about someone's appearance using ella es bonita.Tatoeba #864388 by Shishir, translation #2535069 by jgauthier
- Ella es bonita, y lo que es mejor, muy amable.She is pretty, and what is better, very kind.This sentence combines a description of beauty with a description of personality using ella es bonita.Tatoeba #760014 by darinmex, translation #310701 by Zifre
- Ella es una persona hermosa tanto por fuera como por dentroShe is a beautiful person both on the outside and on the inside
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are looking at a photo of a new coworker.
- Lucía¿Crees que ella es bonita?Do you think she is pretty?
- AlejandroSí, ella es muy bonita.Yes, she is very pretty.
- LucíaTambién parece una persona simpática.She also seems like a nice person.
- AlejandroTienes razón, Lucía.You are right, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ella, es, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
