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How to Give Compliments in Spanish (And Sound Like a Native!)

Ever seen a friend's great new haircut or tasted a delicious home-cooked meal and wanted to say something nice... but in Spanish? You search for the words, but "very good" just doesn't cut it.

Don't worry, we've all been there! Giving a good compliment is a social superpower. It can brighten someone's day, break the ice, and show that you appreciate them. Learning how to do it naturally in Spanish is a fantastic way to build connections and sound more like a native speaker.

This guide will walk you through the essential phrases and cultural tips you need to compliment everything from a person's style to their skills. ¡Vamos!

A diverse pair of friends are talking warmly. One friend is smiling with happy surprise, with small, glowing stars around their head. The other friend is looking at them with a kind, genuine expression, as if giving a compliment. Charming ink and watercolor painting, clean lines, vibrant but soft color palette, storybook style, dark background.

1. Complimenting Appearance: The Go-To Phrases

This is often the first type of compliment we learn. Whether it's a friend's new jacket or just how great they look today, here are the building blocks you need.

Key Verbs: Ser, Estar, and Tener

The verb you choose can subtly change the meaning of your compliment. The biggest difference is between ser (to be - permanent) and estar (to be - temporary).

  • Use ser for inherent qualities. This is like saying someone is a beautiful person in general.
    • Eres muy inteligenteintelligent. (You are very intelligent.)
  • Use estar for how someone looks right now. This is perfect for complimenting an outfit or how they look on a specific day.
    • ¡Estás muy eleganteelegant hoy! (You look very elegant today!)

See the difference? It can be tricky, but this slider makes it clear:

Good, but less common 🤷Perfecto ✅

Eres guapa con ese vestido.

Estás guapa con ese vestido.

Drag the handle to compare

Since wearing a dress is a temporary state for the day, estar is the more natural choice.

Essential Adjectives

Here's your cheat sheet of adjectives. Just remember to make them match the gender of the person you're talking to!

  • Guapo / Guapa: Handsome / Good-looking
  • Bonito / Bonita: Pretty, nice
  • Lindo / Linda: Cute, lovely (very common in Latin America)
  • Hermoso / Hermosa: Beautiful, gorgeous

Putting it together:

¡Qué guapo estás! - You look so handsome! Qué vestidodress tan bonito. - What a pretty dress. Tienes una sonrisasmile muy bonita. - You have a very pretty smile.

Don't Forget Gender Agreement!

In Spanish, adjectives must match the gender of the noun they describe. If you're complimenting a man (un hombre), use the masculine form (guapo). If you're complimenting a woman (una mujer), use the feminine form (guapa).

2. Complimenting Skills and Abilities

Did your friend cook an amazing dinner or play a song beautifully on the guitar? Complimenting someone's talent is a wonderful way to show you appreciate their skills.

A person happily and skillfully cooking at a kitchen counter, with steam rising from a pot. Another person is watching with a big, impressed smile, giving a thumbs-up. The scene is warm and cozy. Charming ink and watercolor painting, clean lines, vibrant but soft color palette, storybook style, dark background.

The magic formula is: ¡Qué bien + [verb]! (How well you [verb]!)

  • ¡Qué bien cocinasyou cook! - You cook so well!
  • ¡Qué bien bailasyou dance! - You dance so well!
  • ¡Qué bien hablas español! - You speak Spanish so well!

Ready to practice? Unscramble this sentence!

Arrange the words to form a correct sentence:

español
hablas
bien
¡Qué

You can also be more direct:

  • ¡Eres un/a cocinero/a excelente! - You are an excellent cook!
  • Hiciste un gran trabajogreat job. - You did a great job.

3. Complimenting Personality

Sometimes the best compliments have nothing to do with looks or skills, but who a person is. These can be the most meaningful.

Great Personality Adjectives

Here are some great personality adjectives to get you started:

  • Amable: Kind
  • Simpático/a: Nice, friendly
  • Divertido/a: Fun, funny
  • Inteligente: Intelligent
  • Generoso/a: Generous

Putting it together:

Eres una persona muy amablekind. - You are a very kind person. Me encanta tu sentido del humorsense of humor. - I love your sense of humor. Admiro lo generoso/agenerous que eres. - I admire how generous you are.

Cultural Cue

Don't be surprised if compliments are more direct and frequent in many Spanish-speaking cultures than you might be used to. It's often a warm and friendly way to connect and express positivity. A simple ¡Gracias! is the perfect way to receive one.

4. The Universal Formula: ¡Qué...!

If you only remember one thing from this article, make it this. The phrase "¡Qué...!" is your Swiss Army knife for compliments. You can use it for almost anything.

A charming and colorful Spanish-style house with a beautiful flower box on the window. The house is the central focus, looking very pretty and inviting. A small speech bubble floats nearby with '¡Qué casa tan bonita!'. Charming ink and watercolor painting, clean lines, vibrant but soft color palette, storybook style, dark background.

The structure is: ¡Qué + [noun] + (tan/más) + [adjective]!

You don't always need the "tan" or "más," but they add extra emphasis.

  • ¡Qué casa tan bonita! - What a beautiful house!
  • ¡Qué ojos más bonitos tienes! - What beautiful eyes you have!
  • ¡Qué idea! - What an idea!
  • ¡Qué sorpresa! - What a surprise!

Test your knowledge with a quick quiz!

How would you say 'What a pretty car!' in Spanish?

Time to Practice!

Giving compliments is a skill, and like any skill, it gets better with practice. Start small. The next time you're talking with a Spanish-speaking friend, or reading one of our interactive stories, try one out. Compliment their Spanish, their new shoes, or just their great energy.

You'll not only make them feel good, but you'll also be taking a huge step forward in your own language journey.

Happy complimenting!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you respond to a compliment in Spanish?

A simple and warm '¡Gracias!' (Thank you!) is the most common and perfect response. You can also add 'Qué amable' (How kind) or 'Gracias, igualmente' (Thanks, you too) if you want to return the compliment.

Is it common to compliment strangers in Spanish-speaking cultures?

Generally, yes. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, giving compliments, even to strangers (e.g., on a nice outfit), can be more common and is often seen as a friendly, positive social interaction. Of course, context and tone are always important!

What's the difference between 'guapo/a' and 'bonito/a'?

'Guapo/a' is most commonly used for people and means 'handsome' or 'good-looking.' 'Bonito/a' is more versatile and means 'pretty' or 'nice.' You can use it for people, pets, places, and things (like 'un vestido bonito' - a pretty dress).