Te ves bonita hoy
/te bes bonita oi/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you look pretty today" is translated into Spanish as Te ves bonita hoy.
This phrase is a compliment used to tell a woman or girl that she appears attractive on this particular day. You can vary the adjective to change the intensity or nuance: hermosa is another option, and it will always agree in gender with the person you are complimenting.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "You see yourself pretty today" because the verb verse is used reflexively to mean "to look" or "to appear".
Which one should you use?
While Te ves bonita hoy uses the verb verse to describe appearance, you can also say Estás guapa hoy. This alternative uses the verb estar to indicate that the person is in a state of being beautiful or attractive today.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using adjectives like guapa or hermosa to compliment someone, remember that gender agreement is required. Specifically, guapa is used to compliment women, while guapo is used to compliment men.
Did you know?
- In some cultures, calling a woman bonita can feel more childlike or sweet, whereas guapa often carries a stronger connotation of being sexy or physically attractive.
- The word hoy actually contains a silent 'h' inherited from the Latin word 'hodiē'.
- In certain contexts, using the word bella instead of bonita elevates the compliment to a poetic or artistic level, often used in literature or high romance.
Examples in context
- Hoy tiene una apariencia encantadoraToday you have a lovely appearance
- Hoy te ves guapaToday you look pretty
- Estás preciosa hoyYou look gorgeous today
- Además de verte hermosa hoy, siempre me impresionas con tu ingenioIn addition to looking beautiful today, you always impress me with your wit
- Te ves bonita hoy con ese vestido.You look pretty today in that dress.
- Te ves bonita hoy, ¿me lo dices en serio?You look pretty today, are you serious?
- ¡Te ves bonita hoy con el pelo suelto!You look pretty today with your hair down!
Example conversation
Daniel meets Elena at a coffee shop.
- ElenaHola, Daniel.Hello, Daniel.
- DanielHola, Elena. Te ves bonita hoy.Hello, Elena. You look pretty today.
- Elena¡Gracias! Qué amable eres.Thank you! You are so kind.
- DanielEs la verdad.It is the truth.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hoy, te, ves, CC BY-SA 4.0.
