Enchanting Vocabulary: Different Ways to Say Beautiful in Spanish

Spanish is rich in colorful vocabulary, and this is especially true if we want to talk about beauty. Whether you want to describe a person or place, Spanish never falls short on adjectives. Because beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it’s always good to know different words to say something is beautiful. In this article, we’ll learn Spanish words to say “beautiful” in Spanish and learn some interesting things about the language.

Beautiful in the Spanish Language: Describing People

When it comes to learning how to say that someone’s beautiful in Spanish, it’s not only about learning a bunch of words. It’s also about understanding how similar words can be used to describe different beautiful things. Here’s a list of the most common adjectives we can use to express someone’s beauty: 

Hermoso/a

This term is a universal way to say someone or something is beautiful. You can also use it to talk about beautiful people, objects, or places. It’s the exact translation of “beautiful” in Spanish. 

• La hija de Pedro es hermosa. / Pedro’s daughter is beautiful
• Los nietos de Ana son hermosos. / Ana’s grandchildren are beautiful.

Bello/a

Bello or bella is another word that’s used to say, “beautiful” in Spanish. It’s a bit formal in comparison with hermoso and hermosa but, overall, Spanish speakers use it in pretty much the same way.

• ¡Qué bella te ves! / You look beautiful!
• Los chicos se ven bellos en esa foto. / The boys look beautiful in that picture.

Precioso/a

A tender way to express beauty. Many people confuse this word with the English cognate, “precious.” However, this word is mostly used to describe beauty and not value, similar to the English word, “gorgeous.” 

• Es un bebé precioso. / He is a gorgeous baby.
• La nueva modelo de la agencia es preciosa. / The new model of the agency is gorgeous.

Lindo/a

In English, lindo/a means “cute” or “lovely.” It expresses a lesser degree of beauty than the adjective hermoso/a, so it’s more similar to the word bonito/a. Again, you can use this word to describe anything you find lovely. Note that’s also used to point out when someone is nice to other people.

• Me parece que Sandra es una mujer linda. / I think Sandra is a lovely woman.
• ¡Tus ojos son tan lindos! / Your eyes are so lovely.
• Gracias, Ana. Que linda. / Thank you Ana, how nice of you.

Bonito/a

It’s very similar to the word lindo/a, and it’s translated to “pretty” in English. But, it’s also used in colloquial phrases to point out a nice (or not so nice) scenario.:

• Elena es una niña muy bonita. / Elena is a very pretty girl.
• Paula tiene un pelo muy bonito. / Paula has very pretty hair.
• ¡Qué bonito! / How nice!

Guapo/a

In many Spanish-speaking countries, guapo is used to talk about people one finds attractive. But, in Spain, it’s also common to use “guapo” as a synonym for “cool” or “nice” when describing objects.

• Él es guapo y simpático. / He is handsome and friendly.
• ¡Qué guapa estás! / How attractive you are!
• Ese carro está muy guapo. / That car is very nice.

Apuesto/a

Apuesto is similar to guapo but it carries a formal undertone. It is commonly employed to talk about men you find handsome. 

Juan se ve apuesto en ese traje. / Juan looks handsome in that suit.

Tu hijo está cada vez más apuesto. / Your son is getting more handsome each time.

Divino/a

Divina translates to “divine” but it can also mean “gorgeous.” In some Latin American countries, like Colombia, it’s common to use divino to talk about attractive people or pretty objects.

• Luces divina con ese peinado. / You look gorgeous with that hairstyle.
• Esas uñas están divinas. / Those nails are gorgeous.

Atractivo/a

Atractivo literally translates to “attractive” in English. It emphasizes attractiveness, but it’s often used in a broader sense. It’s mainly used to describe people.

• Su sonrisa es muy atractiva. / His smile is very attractive.
• El novio de mi hija es un joven atractivo. / My daughter’s boyfriend is an attractive young man.

Adorable

An alternative expression for “beautiful” in Spanish is adorable (meaning “adorable” or “lovely”), and much like in English, it is employed to depict someone or something cute and tender.

• Tu bebé es adorable. / Your baby is adorable.
• ¡Qué niña más adorable! / What an adorable little girl!

Beautiful in the Spanish Language: Describing Places, Animals, and Things

When describing places, animals, or things as beautiful, Spanish words like bello, hermoso, precioso, and lindo are commonly used. However, adjectives like guapo or apuesto are reserved for people and are not suitable for objects, animals, or places. Let’s look at some example sentences

• El paisaje es bello. / The landscape is beautiful.
• Ese vestido es hermoso. / That dress is beautiful.
• Tenemos una cabaña preciosa en la montaña. / We have a beautiful cottage in the mountains.
• Tienes un perro muy lindo. / You have a very cute dog.
• ¡Qué bonito atardecer! / What a lovely sunset!
• Me compré un vestido divino. / I bought a lovely dress.
• Me encanta el nuevo logo, es atractivo. / I love the new logo, it’s attractive.
• ¡Los cachorros son tan adorables! / The puppies are so cute.

How to Add Emphasis to Spanish Adjectives

In Spanish, we can add emphasis to adjectives by using the word muy before adjectives. Muy literally means, “very” in English. For example, muy bonita translates to “very pretty”. Although muy is commonly used with most adjectives, it can’t be used all the time. Some common exceptions are precioso/a or divino/a.

Another way to add emphasis is by modifying their endings, adding the suffix -ísimo/a, which means “really” or “extremely”. For example, guapo becomes guapísimo to intensify the notion of extreme handsomeness. Here’s a chart with some adjectives that follow this pattern: 

Adjectives for Beautiful: Grammar Rules To Keep in Mind

Adjectives in Spanish follow gender and number rules. They must agree with the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun they modify. Adjectives generally end in -o in the masculine form and in -a for the feminine form. We always form the plural by adding an -s to the adjective. Here’s a chart to see this more clearly: 

* An adjective with -e ending doesn’t change in the masculine or feminine form

Beauty-Related Idioms and Expressions in Spanish

How to Practice Spanish

If your goal is to become fluent in Spanish, you should consider using different language resources. Language learning apps have interactive lessons to teach you useful words and phrases. Online language courses explore the nuances of language use, including ways to express beauty. Spanish books have different examples and exercises you can complete to master Spanish spelling, grammar, and even writing.

To practice these expressions with native speakers and improve your conversational skills, consider participating in language exchange programs. You can also watch Spanish YouTube channels or podcasts to refine your listening skills. Finally, join online forums or communities where you can discuss language-related topics and seek advice on polite phrases from fellow learners. 

Saying Beautiful in Spanish: Final Thoughts

Discovering how to talk about beauty in Spanish unveils a variety of ways to express your opinion. From the elegant hermoso/a to the charming adorable, each word has its special meaning. Understanding how these words are used in different situations is important if you want to speak like a native Spanish speaker. Whether you’re giving a playful compliment comparing someone to an exam or using a poetic phrase comparing a person to a monument, these expressions show the creativity and diversity of the Spanish language.