To say “you are beautiful” in Spanish, one of your options is eres hermoso for a man and eres hermosa for a woman. But this is far from the only way to express your feelings or appreciation for someone’s beauty.
In this guide you’ll learn multiple ways to call someone beautiful, with phrases that are appropriate for romantic interests and phrases to compliment friends. You’ll also understand the difference between eres hermosa and estás hermosa, and how adding some beautiful Spanish words to your compliment can bring clarity to your intention.
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Do you say eres or estás?
Before you begin learning synonyms for “beautiful” in Spanish, you need to understand the two ways to say “you are” to a close friend or loved one. The use of ser vs. estar will change the meaning of your compliment.
- Eres is a form of ser (to be). It conveys that the person is beautiful, as a defining characteristic of what they are generally like. You would describe them as beautiful most of the time.
- Eres tan preciosa. = You are so gorgeous. (a compliment that indicates she is always gorgeous in your eyes).
- Estás is a form of estar (to be). Use this to point out a moment in time when the person looks particularly beautiful. For instance, she is wearing a vestido (dress) and the color really suits her, or she has a particularly bright and energetic appearance that day.
- ¡Estás tan preciosa! = You look so gorgeous! (a compliment that draws attention to the moment).
Say ‘you are beautiful’ with romantic intentions
The word “beautiful” in Spanish has so many synonyms you might wonder which one to use when you’re testing the waters, when you really want to flirt, or when you want to clearly convey your romantic feelings. Bear in mind that among friends or family members, many of these same synonyms might be appropriate, so context is everything.
A lot of nuance depends on non-verbal communication, like intonation, facial expression, and proximity, not to mention personality and the culture of the region, which can vary widely. Here’s what you can say to compliment someone you’re interested in romantically.
Eres hermoso/hermosa (you are beautiful)
The Spanish adjective hermoso/hermosa (beautiful) is very common in Spanish. It isn’t at all limited to romantic feelings. In fact, there’s a popular beachfront city in California named Hermosa Beach. But in Spanish, pronounce hermoso/hermosa with a silent “h” to describe:
- una playa hermosa (a beautiful beach)
- un perro hermoso (a beautiful dog)
- unas montañas hermosas (beautiful mountains)
- unos días hermosos (beautiful days)
As you can see, the adjectives for “beautiful” in Spanish follow grammar rules by agreeing in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they’re describing.
Just because hermoso is very acceptable in multiple settings doesn’t mean you should shy away from it in romantic relationships. It will be appreciated, especially if you pair it with other loving sayings, such as eres mi razón de ser (you are my reason for being), or te amo de todo mi alma (I love you with all my soul). This all, of course, depends on the relationship. Read on for some more options.
Eres guapo/guapa (you are beautiful)
While hermoso is appropriate for almost anything beautiful, the word guapo/guapa is almost exclusively applied to good-looking people. In addition to “physically attractive,” it can mean “well-dressed.”
- Tienes que ponerte guapo para la boda, cariño. = You have to get dressed up for the wedding, dear.
In Spain, this is commonly used with the Spanish superlative intensifier -ísimo/ísima.
- Eres guapísima. = You’re super gorgeous.
It can be a simple term of endearment among friends, as well. In Spain, for example, it’s not uncommon to say affectionate things to your friends, like “good morning, beautiful” in Spanish. Once again, context and the nature of your relationship will tell you more than the words themselves.
- ¿Qué tal estás, guapa? = How are you, beautiful?
- ¡Buenos días, guapa! = Good morning, beautiful!
Eres bonito/bonita (You are pretty/lovely/cute)
Bonito/bonita is a widely-used word that can also describe an object that is “cute.” Some Spanish-speakers would limit this to younger women, as it might not be considered as “serious” of a word for “beautiful” in Spanish.
Eres precioso/preciosa (You are beautiful/gorgeous)
It looks like the English word for “precious,” but if you tell someone eres precioso, you are commenting on their physical or inner beauty. Precioso is easily applied to babies, children, someone who is exceptionally kind, or even a really beautiful landscape.
Eres bello/bella (You are beautiful)
Eres muy bella is another option for telling someone “you are very beautiful” in Spanish. In Spain this might be considered poetic or formal, while in other countries it’s more common.
Phrases that mean ‘you’re physically attractive’
These phrases draw attention to physical attractiveness and likely have a sexual connotation, so you wouldn’t want to use them in platonic relationships.
- Eres atractivo/atractiva. = You are physically attractive.
- Estás bueno/buena. = You’re hot. (A flirty and sexual way to say it).
- Estás rico/rica. = You’re sexy. (Very bold, not safe in polite company).
Other ways to show you’re interested romantically
Depending on the level of confidence you have in the relationship, you might want to be more direct with your intentions. Pair any of these phrases with one of the ways to say “you are beautiful” in Spanish and leave no doubt.
- Me gustas. = I like you. (romantically)
- Me gustas mucho. = I like you a lot.
- Estoy enamorado/a de ti. = I’m in love with you.
- Te quiero. = one way to say “I love you” in Spanish.
How to tell a friend ‘you are beautiful’ in Spanish
Telling someone they are beautiful platonically is a situation where context matters greatly. Parents, friends, and family members might easily say hermosa, guapa, preciosa, or bonita without fear of misunderstanding. However, in purely platonic relationships, like with a co-worker or single person your age, you might want to express some clarity with your compliment.
Many times if you’re using estás or te ves the person will understand it to mean “you look beautiful” right now, and will attribute it to some effort or change they’ve made for that moment. Add some context to avoid confusion.
- Amiga, ¡qué guapa estás! Te ves tan elegante. = Friend, how beautiful you look! You look so elegant.
- Te ves muy hermosa. Este color te va bien. = You look beautiful. This color flatters you.
If you want to make sure that your compliment doesn’t come with romantic undertones, sometimes structuring your phrase just a bit differently or adding some platonic language can ensure your meaning is clear. Here are a few ways to share a friendly compliment.
Eres una persona muy linda (You are a beautiful person)
In many countries linda (beautiful) is less flirty, used to mean “cute” or “sweet.” Using una persona (a person) not only puts more emphasis on their character rather than looks, but also requires that any adjective that follows is going to be in the feminine form, even if you’re complimenting a man.
Amiga, eres muy linda por dentro y por fuera (You are beautiful inside and out)
Using amiga or amigo (friend) puts the word “friend” front and center. Drawing attention to the person’s inner beauty can de-emphasize their physical attractiveness.
Te ves genial/guapa/hermosa (You look great/beautiful)
The phrase te ves (you look) means something similar to estás, drawing attention to the current moment, making it more friendly.
Tienes una belleza auténtica/natural (You have an authentic/natural beauty)
Telling someone they have an authentic or natural beauty in this way is a bit more neutral, and you can say it with sincerity and still not sound overly flirtatious.
Tienes una personalidad muy bella (You have a beautiful personality)
Take advantage of myriad ways to describe someone’s inner character other than their looks. Give personality-based compliments in Spanish by saying eres…
- talentoso/talentosa (talented)
- creativo/creativa (creative)
- inteligente (intelligent)
- trabajador/trabajadora (hard-working)
- generoso/generosa (generous)
- constante (tenacious)
- fiable (dependable – Spain) or confiable (dependable – Latin America)
Me caes bien (I like you)
If you’re concerned that your compliment could still be taken the wrong way, you can add clarity by emphasizing your friendship with this phrase.
- Me caes bien. = I like you (as a friend).
Frequently asked questions about ‘you are beautiful’ in Spanish
While Rosetta Stone can’t help you with all of your relationship doubts, here are a few answers to your language questions.
How do I tell a woman she is beautiful in Spanish?
The various words for “beautiful” in Spanish are often applied equally to men, but when you are complimenting a woman, be sure to use the feminine forms like guapa, preciosa, hermosa.
How do you say ‘you are beautiful’ in Spanish slang?
Spanish slang varies by region and generation, so pay attention to the Spanish dialects around you and how words are used. While you might hear some Spanish-speakers use words like Mamacita or Papi and other playful terms of endearment with their parejas (partners), avoid using slang until you have a lot of confidence in the relationship.
How do you say ‘gorgeous’ in Spanish slang?
A few choices are bombón (literally “chocolate bonbon”), chulo/chula (can be offensive in some countries) mono/mona (“cute”). Regional slang can be innocent in one region and offensive in another, so it’s a great idea to ask a Spanish-speaker familiar with that area for any implied meanings. Rosetta Stone’s expert tutors can help.
What is the most poetic way to say ‘beautiful’ in Spanish?
The word bello/bella is strongly connected to the words for beautiful in other Romance languages like French and Italian. It could be closer to the type of classic beauty you’d comment on in a museum or when appreciating architecture. Check out Spanish poesía to stretch your interpretation and get ideas for complimenting your love interest.
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