qué lindo
/ke lindo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, 'so cute' is expressed as qué lindo.
The phrase is used to describe someone or something that is endearing or attractive. While tan lindo can mean 'so cute' in a comparative sense, qué lindo is the standard exclamatory way to say 'how cute!' or 'so cute!' when reacting to something.
Which one should you use?
Qué bonito is a common alternative that can be used interchangeably with qué lindo to express that something is cute or lovely.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the word mono is frequently used instead of lindo to express that something is cute or endearing. Additionally, in Spain, precioso/a can be used to describe something as cute or lovely.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun it describes, so use qué linda for feminine subjects. The adjective must agree in number with the noun it describes, so use qué lindos for masculine plural subjects.
How do you pronounce it?
/ke lindo/
Did you know?
- The word lindo is a linguistic relative of the English word 'legible'. Both words can be traced back to a common ancestor that deals with the idea of being 'clear' or 'proper'.
- Because of its historical roots in 'legitimacy', using lindo can sometimes carry a subtle nuance of being 'pure' or 'authentic' in certain Spanish-speaking regions.
Examples in context
- Me parece tan lindo/a ese perro.I think that dog is so cute.
- ¡Tu bebé es tan lindo/a!Your baby is so cute!
- La decoración de tu casa es muy bonita.The decoration of your house is so cute.
- Esos zapatos son tan monos.Those shoes are so cute.
- La niña es preciosa.The girl is adorable.
- ¡Me encantan tus zapatos! Son preciosos.I love your shoes! They're adorable.
- ¡Qué lindo es ese gatito!That little kitten is so cute!
- Mira ese bebé, ¡qué lindo!Look at that baby, so cute!
Example conversation
María and Mateo are looking at a photo of a puppy.
- María¿Viste la foto del cachorro?Did you see the photo of the puppy?
- MateoSí, ¡qué lindo es!Yes, he is so cute!
- MaríaTiene unos ojos muy dulces.He has very sweet eyes.
- MateoEs un perro muy especial.He is a very special dog.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lindo, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
