Inklingo

How to Say "amicable" in Spanish

English → Spanish

amigable

/ah-mee-GAH-bleh//amiˈɡaβle/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'amigable' to describe people, relationships, or general atmospheres that are friendly and pleasant.
Two children smiling and sharing a large umbrella in the rain.

Examples

Mi nuevo vecino es muy amigable.

My new neighbor is very friendly.

Los delfines son animales naturalmente amigables.

Dolphins are naturally friendly animals.

Llegaron a un acuerdo amigable para terminar el contrato.

They reached an amicable agreement to end the contract.

One Form for All

In Spanish, adjectives that end in '-e' like 'amigable' don't change based on gender. You use the same word for a man (un hombre amigable) and a woman (una mujer amigable).

Adding 'Very'

To say someone is 'extremely' friendly, you can add 'muy' before the word, or add the ending '-ísimo' to the root: 'amigabilísimo'.

The 'O' or 'A' Trap

Mistake:Un chico amigablo / Una chica amigabla.

Correction: Always use 'amigable'. Since it ends in 'e', it is gender-neutral and doesn't need to change to 'o' or 'a'.

amistoso

/ah-mee-STOH-soh//amisˈtoso/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'amistoso' specifically when referring to agreements, resolutions, or interactions that are peaceful and without conflict.
A happy golden retriever wagging its tail and smiling at a person.

Examples

Tuvimos una resolución amistosa del conflicto.

We had an amicable resolution of the conflict.

Juan es un chico muy amistoso y siempre sonríe.

Juan is a very friendly guy and always smiles.

El perro no es amistoso con los extraños.

The dog is not friendly with strangers.

Lograron un divorcio amistoso por el bien de sus hijos.

They achieved an amicable divorce for the sake of their children.

Matching the word to the person

This word changes its ending based on who you are talking about. Use 'amistoso' for a man or a boy, 'amistosa' for a woman or a girl, and 'amistosos' or 'amistosas' for groups.

Position of the word

In Spanish, you usually place this word AFTER the thing you are describing. For example: 'un vecino amistoso' (a friendly neighbor).

Confusing 'friend' and 'friendly'

Mistake:Él es muy amigo.

Correction: Él es muy amistoso.

Amigable vs. Amistoso

Learners often confuse 'amigable' and 'amistoso' because both relate to friendliness. Remember that 'amigable' is broader, describing people and relationships, while 'amistoso' is more specific to peaceful outcomes or agreements.

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.