Inklingo

guay

gwa-eeˈɡwai

guay means cool in Spanish (Excellent, fashionable, or impressive).

cool, great

Also: awesome, neat
AdjectiveN/AB1informal
SpainMexico/Central AmericaAndean Region (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru)
A pair of oversized, colorful, and sleek retro sunglasses resting on a bright solid colored surface, symbolizing something fashionable and cool.

📝 In Action

¡Qué guay es tu camiseta nueva!

A2

Your new T-shirt is so cool!

Hemos ido a la playa y el día ha sido súper guay.

B1

We went to the beach and the day was super great/awesome.

¿Vamos al cine? ¡Guay!

B1

Shall we go to the cinema? Cool!

El concierto estuvo muy guay, la banda tocó genial.

B2

The concert was really cool; the band played brilliantly.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • chulo (cool, cute (Spain))
  • genial (great, brilliant)
  • chévere (cool (Latin America))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • estar muy guayto be very cool
  • ¡Qué guay!How cool!

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "guay" in Spanish:

awesomecoolgreatneat

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: guay

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses the adjective 'guay'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
guayada(a cool thing/situation (very informal, Spain))Noun
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

The exact origin is debated, but it likely comes from the Romani language (Caló) word 'guay' or 'juay,' meaning 'nice' or 'handsome.' It gained immense popularity in Spanish youth slang in the late 20th century.

First recorded: Mid-20th century (in popular Spanish slang)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'guay' used in all Spanish-speaking countries?

No. While people generally understand it, 'guay' is strongly associated with Spain. If you are in Latin America, using 'chévere,' 'chido,' or 'bacán' will sound more natural.

How do I make 'guay' stronger?

You can use intensifiers like 'muy guay' (very cool), 'súper guay' (super cool), or 'mega guay' (mega cool) to emphasize your approval.