dos pulgares arriba
/dos pulɡaɾes ariba/from spelling rules
The English phrase "two thumbs up" is translated into Spanish as dos pulgares arriba.
dos pulgares arriba is a phrase used to denote strong approval or agreement.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal translation where dos means two, pulgares is the plural of thumb and arriba means up.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, you may hear the informal word chévere used to express approval or enthusiasm.
When do people say it?
To express approval or excitement informally, you might say Está genial (It's great). As noted, while the phrase dos pulgares arriba communicates the sentiment, a single thumb up is a more common way to signal agreement in many Spanish-speaking cultures.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, a thumbs-up gesture can be interpreted as a vulgar insult rather than a sign of approval.
- The word arriba originally comes from the Latin words for 'at' and 'coast' or 'bank', suggesting an original meaning of moving upstream.
- In some parts of the Spanish-speaking world, a single thumb pointed upwards can sometimes be interpreted as a request for a ride, rather than a sign of approval.
Examples in context
- ¡La comida de este restaurante está chévere!The food at this restaurant is great!
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are discussing a new movie they just watched.
- MateoMe encantó la película, ¿y a ti?I loved the movie, how about you?
- LucíaA mí también, ¡dos pulgares arriba!Me too, two thumbs up!
- MateoEntonces, vamos a recomendarla a todos.Then, let's recommend it to everyone.
- LucíaSí, es una obra maestra.Yes, it is a masterpiece.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arriba, dos, CC BY-SA 4.0.
