bueno
“bueno” means “good” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
good
Also: nice, kind, tasty, fine / okay
📝 In Action
Este es un buen libro.
A1This is a good book.
La sopa está muy buena.
A1The soup is very tasty.
Mi abuela es una mujer muy buena.
A2My grandmother is a very kind woman.
No te preocupes, estoy bueno.
B1Don't worry, I'm fine/healthy.
well...
Also: okay / right, hello?
📝 In Action
Bueno, no estoy seguro.
A2Well, I'm not sure.
¿Quieres ir al parque? — ¡Bueno!
A2Do you want to go to the park? — Okay!
(Al contestar el teléfono) ¿Bueno?
B1(Answering the phone) Hello?
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: bueno
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly says 'It is a good day'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'bonus', which also meant 'good'. It's one of the most stable words, keeping its original meaning for thousands of years.
First recorded: Before 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the easiest way to remember the difference between 'bueno' and 'bien'?
Think of it this way: 'bueno' describes THINGS (it's an adjective), while 'bien' describes ACTIONS (it's an adverb). 'The car is good' is 'El coche es bueno.' But 'The car runs well' is 'El coche funciona bien'.
Why does 'bueno' sometimes become 'buen'?
It's a small pronunciation shortcut that became a rule. Whenever 'bueno' is placed directly before a masculine singular noun (like 'libro', 'chico', 'día'), it drops the '-o' to become 'buen'. So, it's 'un buen libro', not 'un bueno libro'.
Can 'bueno' mean something other than 'good'?
Yes! Its main meaning is 'good', but in conversations, people use it all the time as a filler word, like 'Well...' or 'So...'. For example: 'Bueno, vamos a ver' ('Well, let's see'). And in some countries like Mexico, it's how you answer the phone!