elegante
/eleˈɡante/
The English word 'stylish' is translated into Spanish as elegante.
Elegante is used to describe someone or something that possesses elegance, taste or refinement in their manners or dress. While it can refer to a person's behavior, it is most commonly used to describe a person's physical appearance or their clothing.
Meaning: having elegance or taste or refinement in manners or dress (adj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the slang terms molón or molona are used to describe something or someone as cool, trendy or stylish. In Mexico, the word chido is commonly used to mean stylish or cool. In Argentina, the informal term canchero or canchera is used to describe someone as stylish, fashionable or cool.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective elegante is invariant for gender, so it remains the same whether describing a masculine or feminine noun. To describe more than one person or object, use the plural form elegantes to match the noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/eleˈɡante/
Did you know?
- While elegante describes refined style, the Argentinian term canchero originally comes from cancha, meaning 'sports field'. It evolved from describing a skilled athlete to describing someone with a confident and stylish attitude.
- In many Latin American countries, using the term fino or fina to describe someone's style can be a way to call them 'classy' or 'high-class'.
- In certain Spanish-speaking Caribbean contexts, if you describe a person as elegante, you might actually be commenting on their polished social status rather than just their clothes.
Examples in context
- Estás muy elegante hoy.You're very stylish today.This sentence shows how to compliment someone's style today using elegante.Tatoeba #10211778 by manufrutos, translation #691422 by CK
- Skura tiene un vestuario muy elegante.Skura has a very stylish wardrobe.This sentence uses elegante to describe a person's wardrobe.Tatoeba #10060825 by manufrutos, translation #10059994 by Amastan
- Sos muy elegante.You're very stylish.This sentence uses elegante to say someone is very stylish.Tatoeba #1625421 by hayastan, translation #242486 by Zifre
- El Sr. García siempre viste de manera estilosaMr. Garcia always dresses in a stylish way
- El caballero tiene un estilo muy distinguidoThe gentleman has a very stylish demeanor
- Mi amigo siempre está a la ondaMy friend is always stylish
- Esos zapatos son muy molonesThose shoes are very stylish
- Esa chaqueta se ve muy guayThat jacket looks very stylish
- Ella siempre está muy cancheraShe always looks very stylish
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are at a formal wedding reception.
- AlejandroLucía, te ves muy elegante con ese vestido.Lucía, you look very elegant in that dress.
- LucíaMuchas gracias, Alejandro. Tú también eres elegante.Thank you very much, Alejandro. You are also elegant.
- AlejandroGracias, me esforcé por elegir un buen traje.Thanks, I made an effort to choose a good suit.
- LucíaSe nota, realmente tienes mucho estilo.It shows, you really have a lot of style.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry elegante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
