excelente
“excelente” means “excellent” in Spanish (general praise).
excellent
Also: outstanding, great
📝 In Action
La comida en este restaurante es excelente.
A2The food at this restaurant is excellent.
Hiciste un trabajo excelente en el proyecto.
B1You did an excellent job on the project.
¡Qué excelente idea!
A2What an excellent idea!
Tus amigos son personas excelentes.
B1Your friends are excellent people.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: excelente
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'excellens', which means 'towering' or 'surpassing'. It's related to the idea of being above the rest, just like something that is excellent stands out.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'excelente' and 'sobresaliente'?
They are very similar and both mean 'outstanding'. 'Excelente' is much more common in everyday conversation for general praise ('This coffee is excellent!'). 'Sobresaliente' also means 'outstanding' but you'll hear it more in formal or academic settings, like for grades on a test ('Sacó una nota sobresaliente' - He got an outstanding grade).
Can I put 'excelente' before the noun, like 'un excelente día'?
Yes, you can, but it's less common. Placing it before the noun ('un excelente día') adds a bit more emotional emphasis, like saying 'a truly excellent day!'. The most standard and neutral position is after the noun ('un día excelente').