Inklingo

guapa

GWAH-pah/ˈɡwapa/

guapa means pretty in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

pretty, attractive

Also: beautiful, handsome
SpainMexico/Central America
A portrait of a young woman with a bright smile and vibrant features, illustrating attractiveness.

📝 In Action

Tu hermana es muy guapa.

A1

Your sister is very pretty.

¿Conoces a la chica guapa que trabaja aquí?

A2

Do you know the attractive girl who works here?

Qué guapa estás hoy con ese vestido rojo.

A2

How lovely you look today in that red dress.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • estar guapato look pretty (today/at this moment)
  • ser guapato be pretty (as a permanent trait)

sweetheart, dear

Also: attractive woman
NounfB1informal
Spain
Two people, an adult and a child, sharing a warm embrace, showing affection.

📝 In Action

¡Oye, guapa! ¿Me puedes ayudar con esto?

B1

Hey, dear! Can you help me with this?

Adiós, guapa. Que tengas un buen día.

A2

Goodbye, sweetheart. Have a nice day.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cariño (dear, darling)
  • cielo (sweetheart (literally 'sky'))

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "guapa" in Spanish:

attractiveattractive womanpretty

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: guapa

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'guapa' to describe a permanent characteristic?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
guapo(handsome, attractive (masculine))Adjective
guapura(beauty, attractiveness)Noun
guapear(to dress up, to make attractive)Verb
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

The origin is debated, but likely comes from the Old Spanish word 'guape' meaning 'brave' or 'bold.' Over time, the meaning shifted from describing someone's character (bravery) to describing their pleasing appearance.

First recorded: 15th century (in the sense of 'brave'), shifting to 'attractive' later.

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: guapo

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'guapa' and 'bonita'?

'Guapa' generally means attractive, striking, or good-looking. 'Bonita' tends to mean pretty, lovely, or cute, often implying a softer, more delicate kind of beauty. They are often interchangeable, but 'guapa' is sometimes considered a stronger compliment.

Is 'guapa' only for women?

The feminine form 'guapa' is only used for women or feminine objects. The masculine form, 'guapo,' is used for men and masculine objects. Both forms are extremely common.