buenos
/BWEH-nohs/
good
The image shows two kind men working together, illustrating the meaning of `buenos` (good/kind, masculine plural).
buenos(Adjective)
📝 In Action
Estos zapatos son muy buenos, duran años.
A1These shoes are very good, they last for years.
Mis vecinos son hombres buenos y siempre ayudan.
A2My neighbors are good men and always help.
Tengo muy buenos recuerdos de mi infancia.
B1I have very good memories of my childhood.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
In Spanish, describing words (adjectives) change to match the thing they describe. 'Buenos' is the form you use for multiple masculine things or people. For example, 'un libro bueno' (one good book) becomes 'dos libros buenos' (two good books).
Placement Matters
Putting 'buenos' before or after the noun can slightly change the feeling. 'Buenos amigos' suggests they are inherently good friends (it's part of who they are), while 'amigos buenos' is more of a simple description, distinguishing them from bad friends.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting to Match
Mistake: "Los momento bueno que pasamos juntos."
Correction: Los momentos buenos que pasamos juntos. Because 'momentos' is plural and masculine, the describing word 'bueno' also needs to become plural and masculine: 'buenos'.
⭐ Usage Tips
More Than Just 'Good'
While 'good' is the main translation, think of 'buenos' flexibly. It can mean 'tasty' when talking about food ('¡Qué tacos tan buenos!'), 'skilled' for people ('Son buenos jugadores'), or 'suitable' for situations ('Son buenos días para ir a la playa').
This bright morning scene depicts the context for the common interjection `Buenos días` (Good morning).
📝 In Action
¡Buenos días! ¿Cómo estás?
A1Good morning! How are you?
Le dije buenos días al conductor del autobús.
A1I said good morning to the bus driver.
💡 Grammar Points
Part of a Set Phrase
Here, 'buenos' isn't really describing something on its own. It's part of the fixed greeting 'Buenos días'. You almost always see it paired with 'días'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Singular vs. Plural Greeting
Mistake: "Bueno día."
Correction: Buenos días. In Spanish, the standard greeting is plural, even though you're only talking about one morning. Think of it like wishing someone 'good days' ahead.
⭐ Usage Tips
When to Use It
'Buenos días' is the standard greeting from when you wake up until around noon or lunchtime. After that, you switch to 'Buenas tardes' (Good afternoon).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: buenos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'They are good books'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it 'Buenos días' and not 'Buen día'?
Great question! 'Buenos días' is the most common and traditional form. The plural 'días' is thought to be an old way of wishing someone not just one good day, but many good days. While you will hear 'Buen día' in some regions (like Argentina), 'Buenos días' is understood and used everywhere.
Is there a difference between 'buenos amigos' and 'amigos buenos'?
Yes, there's a subtle difference in feeling. Placing 'buenos' before 'amigos' ('buenos amigos') implies that being 'good' is an essential quality of these friends. Placing it after ('amigos buenos') is more of a straightforward description, simply stating a fact about them. Both are correct!