bello
“bello” means “beautiful” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
beautiful, lovely
Also: handsome
📝 In Action
El paisaje de la montaña es realmente bello en otoño.
A1The mountain landscape is truly beautiful in autumn.
Tienes un perro muy bello y grande.
A1You have a very lovely and large dog.
Le regaló un bello poema escrito por él mismo.
A2He gave her a beautiful poem written by himself.
noble, fine
Also: great
📝 In Action
Fue un bello gesto de su parte ayudar a los necesitados.
B1It was a noble gesture on his part to help those in need.
La justicia es uno de los más bellos ideales de la humanidad.
C1Justice is one of humanity's finest ideals.
Vivimos en la bella época de la literatura renacentista.
B2We lived during the great era of Renaissance literature.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: bello
Question 1 of 1
Which of these sentences uses 'bello' to describe an abstract quality rather than a physical appearance?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin word *bellus*, which originally meant 'pretty' or 'charming,' often used ironically or to describe women and children. Over time, its meaning broadened in Spanish to cover all forms of high beauty and excellence.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'bello' and 'guapo'?
'Guapo' is almost exclusively used to describe people as good-looking or handsome. 'Bello' is broader; it can describe people, objects (a painting, a house), places (a city), or abstract ideas (a memory). When describing a man, 'guapo' is more common than 'bello'.
Can I use 'bello' to describe the weather?
Yes, but it's often more formal or poetic. You might hear '¡Qué día tan bello!' (What a beautiful day!). However, 'hace buen tiempo' (the weather is good) or 'hace sol' (it's sunny) are more common everyday phrases.