muy bien
/ˌmui ˈbjen/
The English phrase 'tres bien' can be expressed in Spanish as muy bien.
muy bien is an expression used to indicate that something is very good or satisfactory.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌmui ˈbjen/
Did you know?
- While muy bien is the standard translation for 'very good', Spanish speakers rarely use the number tres to mean 'very'. Using tres in this way would be understood as literally meaning the number 'three' rather than an intensifier.
- In some contexts, saying muy bien with a specific rising intonation can actually be sarcastic, functioning as a way to express disapproval or irony, similar to saying 'great' when something goes wrong.
- While muy bien is the standard way to say 'very good', speakers in Mexico and other regions often use the word bien on its own as an intensifier meaning 'very', such as in bien lejos for 'very far'.
Example conversation
Maria and Mateo are discussing a project at school.
- MaríaMira mi dibujo, Mateo.Look at my drawing, Mateo.
- MateoEstá muy bien, María.It is very good, Maria.
- María¿Crees que el profesor lo aprobará?Do you think the teacher will approve it?
- MateoSí, porque está muy bien.Yes, because it is very good.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry muy bien, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
