espléndido
/es-PLEN-dee-doh/
magnificent
A magnificent palace represents the 'espléndido' quality of grand appearance.
espléndido(adjective)
magnificent
?referring to appearance or quality
,splendid
?referring to beauty or excellence
wonderful
?referring to weather or an experience
,brilliant
?shining or bright
📝 In Action
Hoy hace un día espléndido para ir a la playa.
A2Today is a wonderful day to go to the beach.
El actor hizo un trabajo espléndido en la película.
B1The actor did a magnificent job in the movie.
Llevaba un vestido espléndido de seda roja.
B1She was wearing a splendid red silk dress.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
Since this is a describing word, it must match the thing it describes. Use 'espléndido' for masculine things, 'espléndida' for feminine, and add an 's' for plural.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'estar' for weather
Mistake: "El tiempo está espléndido."
Correction: Hizo un día espléndido or El tiempo estuvo espléndido. We usually use 'hacer' or 'ser' to describe general qualities of the day.
⭐ Usage Tips
Adding emphasis
If you want to say something is 'truly' magnificent, you can say 'esplendoroso', though 'espléndido' is already quite strong!
Giving a grand gift shows a person being 'espléndido' or generous.
espléndido(adjective)
generous
?regarding money, gifts, or hospitality
lavish
?giving in a grand way
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo fue muy espléndido con sus regalos de Navidad.
B1My grandfather was very generous with his Christmas gifts.
Fue un anfitrión espléndido y no faltó nada.
B2He was a lavish host and nothing was missing.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing Personality
When describing someone's personality or nature as generous, always use the verb 'ser' (to be).
⭐ Usage Tips
A Step Above 'Generoso'
'Espléndido' implies a bit more grandeur than just 'generoso'. It suggests someone who gives in a big, impressive way.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: espléndido
Question 1 of 2
Which of these is the best description of a 'día espléndido'?
📚 More Resources
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.