Which one should you use?
While Está genial means 'It is cool' or 'It is great', using Es genial would change the meaning to imply that the thing is inherently and permanently cool by its very nature. Additionally, Eso está genial specifically adds the subject 'that', translating to 'that is great' or 'that is awesome'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Spanish speakers use different words for 'cool' depending on where they are. In Spain, you will commonly hear the informal expression Qué guay. In Mexico, the informal slang Qué padre is frequently used to mean 'how cool'. In many Caribbean and South American countries, chévere is the standard colloquial word, appearing as Eso está chévere (that is cool or that is great) or simply Está chévere (it is cool).
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing that something is cool in a specific context, these phrases use the verb estar rather than ser. This is because the expression describes a temporary state or a reaction to a specific situation or object.
Did you know?
- In Mexico, the word padre literally means 'father', yet when used as an adjective, it has absolutely nothing to do with parenthood and simply means 'cool'.
- The term genial stems from the Latin word for a 'guardian spirit' or 'genius', moving from the idea of a divine protector to a description of something wonderful.
- The word chévere is used across the Caribbean and South America, but its exact origin is debated, with some theories linking it to the English word 'shever' or the Yoruba language.
Examples in context
- ¡El concierto estuvo genial!The concert was awesome!
- Tus dibujos son increíbles, ¡molan mucho!Your drawings are amazing, they rock!
- La película que vimos ayer estuvo chévere.The movie we saw yesterday was cool.
- Está genial tu nuevo coche.Your new car is cool.
- ¡Mira ese dibujo! Está genial.Look at that drawing! It's cool.
- Tu idea para la fiesta está genial.Your idea for the party is cool.
Example conversation
Javier and María are talking about a new song.
- Javier¿Has escuchado la nueva canción de este grupo?Have you heard the new song by this group?
- MaríaSí, ¡está genial!Yes, it is cool!
- JavierMe encanta el ritmo que tiene.I love the rhythm it has.
- MaríaA mí también me gusta mucho.I like it a lot too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries genial, CC BY-SA 4.0.
