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📖2 definitions
📚 bonito has 2 definitions
A vibrant, colorful garden filled with blooming red, yellow, and blue flowers, illustrating the concept of 'pretty'.

bonito

boh-NEE-toh

AdjectivemA1
pretty?General term for things, places, or people that are pleasant to look at.,nice?Describing experiences, gestures, or weather.
Also:lovely?Similar to 'nice' or 'pretty', often for days, views, or objects.,cute?Especially for children, animals, or small objects.

📝 In Action

Tu jardín es muy bonito.

A1

Your garden is very pretty.

¡Qué casa tan bonita!

A1

What a pretty house!

Fue un bonito gesto de tu parte.

A2

That was a nice gesture on your part.

Mis sobrinos son muy bonitos.

B1

My nephews are very cute.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • lindo (pretty, lovely)
  • hermoso (beautiful, gorgeous)
  • bello (beautiful)
  • guapo (handsome, good-looking)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • un bonito día – a nice/lovely day
  • un bonito recuerdo – a nice/fond memory
  • tener una bonita sonrisa – to have a pretty smile

💡 Grammar Points

Matching the Noun

Like most describing words in Spanish, 'bonito' must change to match the person or thing it describes. Use 'bonito' for masculine things, 'bonita' for feminine things, 'bonitos' for plural masculine, and 'bonitas' for plural feminine. For example: el coche bonito (the pretty car), la flor bonita (the pretty flower).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Bueno' for 'Pretty'

Mistake: "La casa es muy buena."

Correction: La casa es muy bonita. 'Bueno' means 'good' in terms of quality or morality, while 'bonito' refers to appearance.

Forgetting to Change the Ending

Mistake: "Las chicas son bonito."

Correction: Las chicas son bonitas. Remember to make it plural ('-s') and feminine ('-a') to match 'las chicas'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Your Go-To Positive Word

'Bonito' is a safe and versatile word you can use for almost anything: objects, places, animals, children, and even experiences ('un bonito día'). It's less intense than 'hermoso' (beautiful/gorgeous).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: bonito

Question 1 of 2

If you are admiring a sunset in Spain and say '¡Qué bonito!', what are you talking about?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

bonita(pretty (feminine)) - adjective
bonitamente(prettily, nicely) - adverb
embellecer(to beautify, to embellish) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'bonito', 'guapo', and 'hermoso'?

Great question! They all mean 'beautiful' in some way, but have different feelings. 'Bonito' is a general-purpose 'pretty' or 'nice' – you can use it for almost anything. 'Guapo' is mostly for people (especially men) and means 'handsome' or 'good-looking'. 'Hermoso' is a stronger word, like 'beautiful' or 'gorgeous', used for stunning landscapes, art, or very attractive people.

Can I use 'bonito' to describe a man?

Yes, you can, but it might sound a bit soft, like calling him 'pretty' or 'cute'. It's more common to use 'guapo' for a man you find handsome. You might use 'bonito' to talk about his features, like 'tiene ojos bonitos' (he has nice eyes).