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espléndido

es-PLEN-dee-doh/esˈplendido/

“espléndido” means “magnificent” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

magnificent, splendid

Also: wonderful, brilliant
A grand, shimmering golden palace with elegant towers and sparkling fountains under a clear blue sky.

📝 In Action

Hoy hace un día espléndido para ir a la playa.

A2

Today is a wonderful day to go to the beach.

El actor hizo un trabajo espléndido en la película.

B1

The actor did a magnificent job in the movie.

Llevaba un vestido espléndido de seda roja.

B1

She was wearing a splendid red silk dress.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • un día espléndido – a beautiful/splendid day
  • un futuro espléndido – a bright/splendid future

generous

Also: lavish
A person with a kind smile handing a large, brightly wrapped gift box with a big bow to a friend.

📝 In Action

Mi abuelo fue muy espléndido con sus regalos de Navidad.

B1

My grandfather was very generous with his Christmas gifts.

Fue un anfitrión espléndido y no faltó nada.

B2

He was a lavish host and nothing was missing.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • generoso (generous)
  • desprendido (unselfish/giving)
  • dadivoso (bountiful (literary))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ser espléndido con – to be generous with
  • una propina espléndida – a generous tip

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "espléndido" in Spanish:

lavish→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: espléndido

Question 1 of 2

Which of these is the best description of a 'día espléndido'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
esplendor(splendor/glory) — Noun
esplendidez(generosity/magnificence) — Noun
espléndidamente(splendidly) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
lívidorígido
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'splendidus', which comes from 'splendere' meaning 'to shine'.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: splendidFrench: splendideItalian: splendido

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'espléndido' formal?

It is slightly more elegant than words like 'bueno' or 'lindo', but it is very common in everyday conversation when people want to express that something is truly excellent.

Does it only mean 'shiny' like the Latin root?

While it comes from a word meaning 'to shine', in modern Spanish it mostly means 'magnificent' or 'generous'. It describes the 'brightness' of someone's character or the 'brilliance' of an object.