Which one should you use?
While estupendo is a general way to say terrific, you might use extraordinario if you specifically mean extraordinary. Be careful not to confuse the English sense of "terrific" with the Spanish word terrible, which almost always means something very bad or awful.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, estupendo is a popular choice for expressing that something is terrific. In Latin America, you may hear the informal term chévere, while in Chile and some parts of South America, the slang term bacán is used to mean terrific or awesome.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use estupenda for feminine nouns, estupendos for masculine plural nouns and estupendas for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/estupendo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the Spanish word terrible to mean "terrific". In Spanish, terrible describes something very bad or awful.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word estupendo shares its roots with the English word 'stupid', as both stem from the Latin concept of being stunned or senseless.
- In some Caribbean dialects, the word chévere has evolved beyond 'terrific' to also describe a person who is easy-going or 'cool'.
- Depending on the country, a person might use chévere, bacán or estupendo to describe the same party, and a listener from a different region might find the choice of word more surprising than the compliment itself.
Examples in context
- Tom se ve estupendo.Tom looks terrific.This sentence is useful for showing how to use estupendo to describe how someone looks.Tatoeba #1713640 by marcelostockle, translation #1453620 by Spamster
- El trabajo que realizaste en el proyecto es excelente.The work you did on the project is terrific.
- ¡Una presentación magnífica!A terrific presentation!
- Las vistas desde la cima de la montaña son magníficas.The views from the top of the mountain are terrific.
- ¡Qué recital extraordinario!What an extraordinary recital!
- ¡Qué película tan genial!What a terrific movie!
- Tu idea para la fiesta suena genial.Your idea for the party sounds terrific.
- ¡Tu actuación fue increíble!Your performance was terrific!
- ¡Qué día más chévere!What a terrific day!
- La nueva canción de ese artista está bien chévere.That artist's new song is really terrific.
- ¡Los resultados del examen son fantásticos!The exam results are terrific!
- ¡Un día estupendo para disfrutar de la playa!A terrific day to enjoy the beach!
- El plan suena estupendo.The plan sounds terrific.
- Has hecho un trabajo estupendo.You have done a terrific job.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are discussing a movie they just watched.
- ElenaLa película estuvo estupenda.The movie was terrific.
- JavierSí, me gustó mucho el final.Yes, I liked the ending a lot.
- Elena¿Quieres ver otra más?Do you want to see another one?
- JavierEso suena estupendo, Elena.That sounds terrific, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries estupendo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
