arăți minunat
The English phrase "you look beautiful" is translated into Romanian as arăți minunat.
This phrase is a compliment used to tell someone that their current appearance is very attractive.
Which one should you use?
While arată minunat translates to "he/she looks beautiful", the phrase arată bine means "looks good" and is a weaker, lower-level compliment than the higher-level arată minunat.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Moldova, it is common to use the expression Arăți de milioane! to mean "You look like a million bucks!"
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb arăți is the second-person plural form of a arăta (to show/to look/to appear). The form arăți minunat uses this second-person plural conjugation, which is used for a group of people or as a polite way to address a single person. To say "he/she looks beautiful", you would use the third-person singular form arată minunat.
What mistakes should you avoid?
When addressing a man, use Ești foarte frumos.
Did you know?
- If you tell someone they look 'minunat', you are linguistically suggesting they look 'astonishing' or 'miraculous'.
- If you want to be more poetic, Romanians might use ești superbă for a woman, which carries a stronger, almost breathtaking connotation than arăți minunat.
- Because a arăta means 'to show', saying arăți minunat is etymologically equivalent to saying 'you show yourself wonderfully'.
Examples in context
- Arăți super astăzi cu acea rochie nouă!You look great today with that new dress!
- Arăți minunat în această rochie!You look beautiful in this dress!
- Arăți minunat în această rochie.You look beautiful in this dress.
- Arăți minunat astăzi, Ioana.You look beautiful today, Ioana.
Example conversation
Alexandru and Ioana are meeting for a date.
- AlexandruBună, Ioana! Arăți minunat!Hi, Ioana! You look beautiful!
- IoanaMulțumesc, Alexandru! Tu ești foarte elegant.Thank you, Alexandru! You are very elegant.
- AlexandruVrei să mergem la restaurant acum?Do you want to go to the restaurant now?
- IoanaDa, haide să mergem!Yes, let's go!
