bienvenida
/bee-en-veh-NEE-dah/
welcome
As a noun, bienvenida means 'welcome,' illustrating the act of receiving someone warmly.
📝 In Action
Organizaron una gran fiesta de bienvenida.
A1They organized a big welcome party.
Le dimos la bienvenida a nuestro nuevo jefe.
A2We gave our new boss the welcome.
La bienvenida fue tan cálida que me sentí en casa.
B1The welcome was so warm that I felt at home.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
As a noun referring to the greeting itself, 'la bienvenida' is always feminine, even if you are welcoming a man. (e.g., 'La bienvenida que recibió [él] fue buena.')
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Noun and Adjective
Mistake: "Using 'bienvenido' when referring to the noun: 'El bienvenida fue genial.'"
Correction: Use the feminine noun form: 'La bienvenida fue genial.' (The welcome was great.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The Key Verb
The most common way to use this noun is with the verb 'dar' (to give): 'dar la bienvenida' means 'to welcome' (literally, 'to give the welcome').
Bienvenida as an adjective is the feminine singular form of 'welcome,' used to describe or greet a female person.
bienvenida(adjective)
welcome
?used to greet a female person (feminine singular form)
accepted
?to be received favorably
📝 In Action
¡Bienvenida, María! Pasa y siéntate.
A1Welcome, María! Come in and sit down.
Eres bienvenida a usar mi coche cuando lo necesites.
A2You (female) are welcome to use my car when you need it.
Ella se sintió bienvenida por todos.
B1She felt welcome by everyone.
💡 Grammar Points
Must Match Gender
As an adjective, 'bienvenida' must agree with the person being greeted. Use 'bienvenido' for a man, 'bienvenidas' for a group of women, and 'bienvenidos' for a mixed group or a group of men.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mismatched Gender
Mistake: "Saying '¡Bienvenida, Pedro!' (to a man)."
Correction: Say '¡Bienvenido, Pedro!' (Always match the ending to the gender of the person you are talking to.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The Interjection
When used alone (e.g., '¡Bienvenida!'), this word acts as a simple, direct greeting. It's the short way of saying 'You are welcome here!'
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: bienvenida
Question 1 of 2
Which of these sentences uses 'bienvenida' as a noun (the reception itself)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'bienvenida' used to say 'You're welcome' after someone says thank you?
No. In Spanish, 'bienvenida' is ONLY used for greetings or receptions. To reply 'You're welcome' after 'Gracias,' you should use 'De nada' or 'No hay de qué'.
When is it 'La bienvenida' and when is it '¡Bienvenida!'?
'La bienvenida' (the noun) refers to the event or action of welcoming. '¡Bienvenida!' (the adjective/interjection) is the direct greeting you say to a female person when she arrives.