bien
/ˈbjen/
In Spanish, the English phrase 'well' is translated as bien.
bien is an adverb used to describe doing something well or being in good health. In many Spanish-speaking dialects, it is also used colloquially as an intensifier to mean 'very' or 'really'.
Meaning: in good health (adj)
Which one should you use?
While bien is the correct adverb to use when describing how an action is performed (e.g., doing something well), the word bueno is an adjective meaning 'good'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In informal contexts, bien can function as a slang term meaning 'very'. Additionally, if you are using 'well' as a filler word in conversation, you might use pues, o sea or entonces instead.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adverb, bien is invariable and does not change its form to agree with gender or number.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbjen/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use bueno instead of bien when trying to say that something is going 'well'.
Did you know?
- The English word 'bonus' shares a common ancestor with bien via the Latin word bonus, meaning 'good'.
- In Spain, the expression está bien can sometimes be used as a sarcastic way to say 'fine' when something is actually disappointing.
- The word bien can be used as a noun in the phrase el bien y el mal, which translates to 'good and evil'.
Examples in context
- No va muy bien.It's not going very well.This sentence demonstrates how to use bien to describe how something is progressing.Tatoeba #4431462 by Shishir, translation #4011944 by CK
- Yo sé eso bien.I know that well.This sentence shows how to use bien to describe the extent of knowledge.Tatoeba #4931282 by caiser, translation #2818807 by sundown
- No lo veo bien.You don't look well.This sentence illustrates using bien to describe someone's health or appearance.Tatoeba #7299890 by arh, translation #2059938 by Spamster
- Me siento bien hoy.I feel well today.
- El equipo se desempeñó bien.The team performed well.
- Ella habla español bien.She speaks Spanish well.
- Pues, déjame pensarlo.Well, let me think about it.
- ¡Pues, eso es interesante!Well, that's interesting!
- Bueno, ¡vale entonces!Well, alright then!
- Eso no es lo que quise decir. Pues / O sea / Entonces, déjame explicarlo.That is not what I meant. Well, let me explain.
- 1332 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are talking about a relative's recovery in a cafe.
- Mateo¿Cómo está tu abuelo?How is your grandfather?
- SofíaÉl ya se siente bien.He is feeling well now.
- MateoQué bueno que esté bien.It's good that he is well.
- SofíaSí, es un alivio.Yes, it's a relief.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “well” translations and entries bien, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
