hermoso
/er-MOH-soh/
📝 In Action
El paisaje desde la montaña es hermoso.
A1The landscape from the mountain is beautiful.
Tu vestido es hermoso, ¿dónde lo compraste?
A2Your dress is gorgeous, where did you buy it?
Gracias por el hermoso regalo.
A2Thank you for the lovely gift.
Hoy es un día hermoso para ir a la playa.
B1Today is a fine day to go to the beach.
💡 Grammar Points
Making it Match: Gender & Number
Like most Spanish describing words, 'hermoso' must change its ending to match the person or thing it describes. Use 'hermoso' for masculine things, 'hermosa' for feminine things, 'hermosos' for plural masculine things, and 'hermosas' for plural feminine things.
Where to Put It
Usually, 'hermoso' comes after the thing it describes (e.g., 'un coche hermoso' - a beautiful car). You can put it before for a more poetic or emotional effect (e.g., 'un hermoso día' - a beautiful day).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting to Change the Ending
Mistake: "La casa es hermoso."
Correction: Say 'La casa es hermosa.' Because 'casa' is a feminine word (it ends in -a), the describing word 'hermoso' needs to change to 'hermosa' to match.
Ser vs. Estar
Mistake: "La playa es hermosa hoy."
Correction: It's better to say 'La playa está hermosa hoy.' Use 'ser' (es) for permanent qualities ('La playa es hermosa' - The beach is a beautiful place in general). Use 'estar' (está) for temporary states or how something looks right now ('La playa está hermosa hoy' - The beach looks beautiful today).
⭐ Usage Tips
Hermoso vs. Bonito vs. Guapo
'Hermoso' suggests a deep, profound, or breathtaking beauty, like a sunset or a work of art. 'Bonito' is more like 'pretty' or 'nice'—less intense. 'Guapo' is almost exclusively used for people, meaning 'handsome' or 'good-looking'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: hermoso
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'hermoso' to describe a deep, breathtaking beauty rather than just 'pretty'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'hermoso', 'bonito', 'lindo', and 'guapo'?
Think of them on a scale. 'Hermoso' is at the top—it means truly beautiful or gorgeous, often in a profound way (art, nature, a person's soul). 'Guapo' is for people's physical appearance, meaning handsome or good-looking. 'Bonito' means pretty or nice, a general-purpose compliment for people or things. 'Lindo' is similar to 'bonito' but can also mean cute or sweet, especially in Latin America.