A stunning, brightly colored monarch butterfly resting gently on a single pink flower petal.

linda

/leen-dah/

pretty?describing appearance,lovely?describing a thing, place, or situation,beautiful?often for people or things, a bit softer than 'hermosa'

Also:nice?describing a person's character or an action,sweet?describing a kind gesture or person

📝 In Action

Tu hermana es muy linda.

Your sister is very pretty.

¡Qué casa tan linda!

What a lovely house!

Fue una linda sorpresa verte aquí.

It was a lovely surprise to see you here.

Gracias, esa fue una acción muy linda de tu parte.

Thank you, that was a very nice action on your part.

Word Connections

Synonyms

bonita (pretty)
hermosa (beautiful, gorgeous)
guapa (pretty, good-looking (for people))
preciosa (gorgeous, precious)

Antonyms

fea (ugly)

Common Collocations

una chica linda – a pretty girl
una sonrisa linda – a lovely smile
una vista linda – a lovely view

💡 Grammar Points

Matching the Noun

In Spanish, describing words must match the thing they describe. 'Linda' is the feminine form, used for words like 'la casa' (the house) or 'una chica' (a girl). For masculine words like 'el perro' (the dog), you use 'lindo'.

Placement Matters

Usually, 'linda' goes after the word it describes: 'una flor linda' (a pretty flower). You can put it before the word ('una linda flor') to add a bit more emotion or personal feeling, like saying 'a lovely flower'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting to Match

Mistake: "El jardín es muy linda."

Correction: Say 'El jardín es muy lindo.' Because 'jardín' is a masculine word (el jardín), the describing word needs to be masculine too ('lindo').

⭐ Usage Tips

More Than Just Looks

While 'linda' often means 'pretty,' you can also use it to describe a nice gesture or a kind person. '¡Qué linda eres!' can mean 'You're so sweet!'

A Common Term of Endearment

In many parts of Latin America, it's very common to call a woman or girl 'linda' as an affectionate nickname, like 'Hola, linda, ¿cómo estás?' (Hi, pretty, how are you?).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: linda

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'linda' correctly?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

lindo(pretty, lovely (masculine)) - adjective

lindura(cuteness, beauty, a cutie) - noun

lindamente(prettily, nicely) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'linda', 'bonita', and 'hermosa'?

Think of them on a scale of intensity. 'Linda' is like 'pretty' or 'lovely'—very common, warm, and sweet. 'Bonita' is very similar to 'linda'. 'Hermosa' is a step up, closer to 'beautiful' or 'gorgeous'. You might call a flower 'linda', but a breathtaking sunset 'hermoso'.

Is it okay to call a stranger 'linda'?

It depends on the region and context. In many Latin American countries, it can be a friendly and common greeting from a shopkeeper, for example. In other situations or regions, it could be seen as too forward. When in doubt, it's safest to use it with people you know.