What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to 'how good' (qué meaning 'how' or 'what' and bueno meaning 'good').
Which one should you use?
While qué bueno is used to react to news or specific qualities, you might use qué bien instead when reacting to an action or a state of being, such as hearing that someone passed a test.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Spanish speakers use different phrases for 'that's good' depending on their location. In Mexico, you can use Está chido to mean 'it's cool' or Está padrísimo for 'it's awesome'. In Spain, Está guay is a popular informal way to say 'that's good'. In Argentina, está copado is common, while in Chile, está pulento means 'that's good' or 'that's great'. In Puerto Rico, está brutal is used to express that something is excellent or fantastic.
Did you know?
- While qué bueno is used for news, the word bueno can also mean 'hello' when answering the telephone in several Latin American countries.
- The word brutal in Puerto Rico is a positive way to say 'that's good' or 'fantastic' rather than its English meaning of 'cruel' or 'violent'.
- The Spanish word bueno is a doublet of the Latin word bonus which was borrowed into English to create terms like 'bonus' and 'bonanza'.
Examples in context
- Qué bueno, ¿no es así?That's good, isn't it?This sentence is useful for showing how to use qué bueno in a question format.Tatoeba #1372261 by marcelostockle, translation #435579 by CK
- ¡Qué bueno que hayas venido!That's good that you came!
- ¡Qué bueno que te sientes mejor!That's good that you feel better!
Example conversation
Daniel tells Elena about his new job.
- DanielElena, me dieron el empleo.Elena, I got the job.
- Elena¡Qué bueno, Daniel!That's good, Daniel!
- DanielGracias, estoy muy feliz.Thank you, I am very happy.
- ElenaTe lo mereces.You deserve it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bueno, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
