What does it mean word for word?
The expression te ves genial literally translates to "you see yourself great", which is the standard way to express that someone "looks" great in Spanish.
Which one should you use?
While ¡guau, te ves genial! is a standard way to give this compliment, you might also use ¡guau, qué bien te ves! to say "wow, how great you look!" For a more intense compliment, ¡Guau, te ves increíble! means "Wow, you look incredible!" If you want to be more specific about beauty or handsomeness, ¡Qué guapo/guapa estás! is commonly used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The grammar of the phrase changes depending on who you are addressing. The use of te in te ves genial indicates the informal singular form used with friends, family or peers. To address someone formally, change te ves to se ve. If you are complimenting a group of people, use the plural form se ven geniales.
Did you know?
- In English, 'wow' is an exclamation of surprise, but in Spanish, the phonetic adaptation guau is the standard onomatopoeia for a dog's bark.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, giving a compliment on appearance is often accompanied by a light touch on the arm or a kiss on the cheek.
- The word genial used to describe someone's appearance finds its roots in the Latin 'genius', which historically meant a 'guardian spirit' rather than just being a synonym for 'great'.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are meeting for a dinner date.
- Daniel¡Hola, Sofía! ¡Guau, te ves genial!Hi, Sofia! Wow, you look great!
- SofíaMuchas gracias, Daniel. Tú también.Thank you so much, Daniel. You too.
- DanielMe gusta mucho tu peinado.I really like your hairstyle.
- SofíaGracias, me lo hice hace una hora.Thanks, I did it an hour ago.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries genial, guau, te, ves, CC BY-SA 4.0.
