estás bueno
/estas bweno/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you are hot" can be translated into Spanish as estás bueno.
The phrase is a colloquial way to tell someone that they are physically attractive or sexually appealing.
Which one should you use?
While estás bueno/a refers to physical attractiveness, using estás caliente changes the meaning entirely. It expresses that someone is physically hot to the touch or is feeling sexually aroused. If you want to say someone is "good-looking" in a more general way, you can use estás guapo/a.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
estás bueno is highly colloquial and carries a strong sexual connotation, which makes it inappropriate for formal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are speaking to a woman, you must change the masculine adjective bueno to the feminine buena.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using eres bueno to mean someone is attractive. Because of the difference between the verbs *ser* and *estar*, eres bueno actually means "you are a good/kind person".
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking countries, people use the word rico (meaning 'rich' or 'delicious') as a synonym for bueno to call someone 'hot'. This frames physical attraction in terms of sensory pleasure.
- The word bueno is a direct descendant of the Latin word bonus. It shares a common ancestor with the English word 'bonanza', which originally referred to a 'good' tide or fair weather.
- In certain cultures, estás bueno is viewed as too blunt for a face-to-face compliment and is more commonly used as a reaction to a photo.
Examples in context
- Estás bueno con esa camisa.You look hot in that shirt.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are flirting at a party.
- ElenaDaniel, la verdad es que estás bueno.Daniel, honestly, you are hot.
- Daniel¿Ah, sí? ¿Me lo dices en serio?Oh, really? Are you serious?
- ElenaSí, me encantas.Yes, I adore you.
- DanielGracias, Elena. Tú también eres muy guapa.Thanks, Elena. You are very beautiful too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bueno, CC BY-SA 4.0.
