Inklingo

How to Say "awesome" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word forawesomeis genialuse 'genial' for general admiration and approval when something is great, cool, or brilliant, often implying cleverness or a positive outcome.

genial🔊A2

Use 'genial' for general admiration and approval when something is great, cool, or brilliant, often implying cleverness or a positive outcome.

Learn more →
guay🔊B1

Use 'guay' to express strong enthusiasm and approval, especially for things that are fashionable, exciting, or generally pleasing, common in Spain.

Learn more →
cool🔊A1

Use 'cool' as a direct loanword to describe something or someone as fashionable, impressive, or generally positive, understood widely.

Learn more →
súperB1

Use 'súper' to express enthusiasm and highlight that something is very good or great, functioning as a simple intensifier.

Learn more →
impresionante🔊B1

Use 'impresionante' when something is truly breathtaking, astonishing, or remarkably good, often used for views or achievements.

Learn more →
bárbaroB1

Use 'bárbaro' as a positive appraisal meaning great or fantastic, often used to express pleasant surprise about an achievement or situation.

Learn more →
chivo🔊B1

Use 'chivo' to describe something as very high quality, exciting, or cool, often used for possessions or experiences.

Learn more →
épicoA2

Use 'épico' for something that is exceptionally impressive, memorable, or extraordinary, often referring to a specific event or achievement.

Learn more →
sensacional🔊A2

Use 'sensacional' to convey that something is outstandingly good or impressive, often used for food, performances, or experiences.

Learn more →
brutal🔊C1

Use 'brutal' to describe something as extremely good, intense, or amazing, often used for powerful experiences like concerts or performances.

Learn more →
mortal🔊C1

Use 'mortal' to describe something as incredibly great, fantastic, or hilarious, implying it's so good it's almost overwhelming.

Learn more →
tremendo🔊C1

Use 'tremendo' as slang to express strong praise for something impressive or remarkable, often used for qualities like talent or size.

Learn more →
cañónC1

Use 'cañón' as slang in Spain to describe something as excellent or great, often referring to possessions like cars or technology.

Learn more →
geniales🔊A1

Use 'geniales' (plural of genial) for general approval when multiple things are great, fantastic, or excellent.

Learn more →
English → Spanish

genial

kheh-nyahlxeˈnjal

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'genial' for general admiration and approval when something is great, cool, or brilliant, often implying cleverness or a positive outcome.
A group of stylized, joyful cartoon characters cheering enthusiastically with bright smiles and raised arms, surrounding a single, perfectly ripe, glowing red apple.

Examples

¡Qué genial que vienes a la fiesta!

How cool that you're coming to the party!

La película fue genial, me encantó.

The movie was great, I loved it.

Tus amigos son geniales.

Your friends are great/awesome.

Making 'genial' Match

Like most describing words (adjectives), 'genial' needs to match the thing it's describing. If the thing is plural, add an '-es' to make 'geniales'. For example: 'un plan genial' (one great plan) vs. 'unos planes geniales' (some great plans).

Describing a Mood

Mistake:Él está genial hoy.

Correction: To say someone is in a great mood, it's more natural to say 'Él está de muy buen humor'. Saying 'es genial' describes the person's character ('he's a great person'), not their temporary feeling.

guay

gwa-eeˈɡwai

AdjectiveB1Informal (Spain)
Use 'guay' to express strong enthusiasm and approval, especially for things that are fashionable, exciting, or generally pleasing, common in Spain.
A pair of oversized, colorful, and sleek retro sunglasses resting on a bright solid colored surface, symbolizing something fashionable and cool.

Examples

¡Qué guay es tu camiseta nueva!

Your new T-shirt is so cool!

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

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

¿Vamos al cine? ¡Guay!

Shall we go to the cinema? Cool!

Always the Same

Unlike most Spanish adjectives, 'guay' does not change its ending based on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, singular, or plural. It's always 'guay'.

Using the wrong form

Mistake:La gente es muy guaya. (Trying to make it plural/feminine)

Correction: La gente es muy guay. (Keep it simple! It never changes its form.)

cool

koolkul

AdjectiveA1Informal (Widespread)
Use 'cool' as a direct loanword to describe something or someone as fashionable, impressive, or generally positive, understood widely.
A person wearing stylish sunglasses and a colorful backwards baseball cap, giving a thumbs up.

Examples

Ese coche es muy cool.

That car is very cool.

Tu hermano es una persona muy cool.

Your brother is a very cool person.

¡Qué viaje tan cool hiciste a México!

What a cool trip you took to Mexico!

One word for everyone

Unlike most Spanish adjectives that change based on if you're talking about a man or a woman, 'cool' always stays the same.

Where to put it

In Spanish, you usually place 'cool' after the person or thing you are describing, just like 'un libro cool' (a cool book).

The 'O/A' Trap

Mistake:Esa chica es coola.

Correction: Esa chica es cool.

súper

AdjectiveB1Informal
Use 'súper' to express enthusiasm and highlight that something is very good or great, functioning as a simple intensifier.

Examples

¡Qué súper! Ganamos el partido.

How great! We won the game.

impresionante

im-preh-sioh-NAHN-tehimpɾesjoˈnante

adjectiveB1General
Use 'impresionante' when something is truly breathtaking, astonishing, or remarkably good, often used for views or achievements.
A small, wide-eyed squirrel stands at the base of a massive, brightly colored sunflower that towers high above it, illustrating a feeling of awe and admiration.

Examples

La vista desde el mirador es absolutamente impresionante.

The view from the viewpoint is absolutely breathtaking.

Tu habilidad para hablar tres idiomas es impresionante.

Your ability to speak three languages is impressive.

Compramos un televisor con una calidad de imagen impresionante.

We bought a television with stunning image quality.

Gender is Easy!

This adjective is special because it stays 'impresionante' whether you are describing a masculine noun (el coche impresionante) or a feminine noun (la casa impresionante). It does not change gender.

Making it Plural

To describe more than one thing, simply add '-s' to the end: 'impresionante' becomes 'impresionantes'. Example: 'Los efectos especiales son impresionantes'.

Forgetting the Plural

Mistake:Las montañas eran impresionante.

Correction: Las montañas eran impresionantes. (Because 'montañas' is plural, the adjective must also be plural.)

bárbaro

adjectiveB1Informal
Use 'bárbaro' as a positive appraisal meaning great or fantastic, often used to express pleasant surprise about an achievement or situation.

Examples

¡Qué bárbaro! Ganaste el partido.

That's awesome! You won the game.

chivo

chee-bohˈtʃi.βo

adjectiveB1Informal (Latin America)
Use 'chivo' to describe something as very high quality, exciting, or cool, often used for possessions or experiences.
A person wearing stylish sunglasses and a trendy jacket, smiling confidently.

Examples

¡Qué chivo está tu teléfono nuevo!

Your new phone is so cool!

La película estuvo bien chiva.

The movie was really great.

Me parece chivo que vengas con nosotros.

I think it's cool that you're coming with us.

Matching the Noun

Even though it's slang, it still behaves like an adjective. If describing a party (la fiesta), use 'chiva'.

Regional Boundaries

Mistake:Using 'chivo' for 'cool' in Spain.

Correction: In Spain, they might think you are talking about a literal goat. Use 'guay' there instead.

épico

adjectiveA2Informal
Use 'épico' for something that is exceptionally impressive, memorable, or extraordinary, often referring to a specific event or achievement.

Examples

¡Esa canasta en el último segundo fue épica!

That basket in the last second was epic!

sensacional

sen-sah-syoh-NAHLsensasjoˈnal

adjectiveA2Informal
Use 'sensacional' to convey that something is outstandingly good or impressive, often used for food, performances, or experiences.
A bright gold trophy sitting on a pedestal surrounded by colorful confetti.

Examples

¡La comida en este restaurante es sensacional!

The food at this restaurant is sensational!

Tengo una noticia sensacional que contarte.

I have some fantastic news to tell you.

Fue un concierto sensacional; todos bailamos mucho.

It was a sensational concert; we all danced a lot.

One Form for All

This word doesn't change for gender. Use 'sensacional' for both masculine and feminine things (e.g., 'un libro sensacional' and 'una película sensacional').

Plural Form

To make it plural, just add '-es' to the end: 'sensacionales'.

Gender confusion

Mistake:una fiesta sensacionala

Correction: una fiesta sensacional

brutal

broo-TAHLbɾuˈtal

adjectiveC1Informal
Use 'brutal' to describe something as extremely good, intense, or amazing, often used for powerful experiences like concerts or performances.
A large, perfectly cut, intensely sparkling stylized diamond resting on a simple, deep purple velvet cushion, symbolizing something amazing or fantastic.

Examples

¡Ese concierto fue brutal! Tocaron mis canciones favoritas.

That concert was awesome! They played my favorite songs.

Tienes un coche brutal; ¿cuánto corre?

You have an amazing car; how fast does it go?

El dolor de cabeza que tengo es brutal.

The headache I have is intense (extreme).

Gender Invariable

'Brutal' is one of those adjectives that stays the same whether the noun is masculine or feminine: 'un coche brutal' (m.) and 'una película brutal' (f.).

Using 'Muy' with Slang

Mistake:Muy brutal

Correction: Just use 'brutal' on its own. Since 'brutal' already means 'extremely good,' adding 'muy' (very) is redundant and sounds unnatural in slang contexts.

mortal

mor-TALmoɾˈtal

adjectiveC1Slang
Use 'mortal' to describe something as incredibly great, fantastic, or hilarious, implying it's so good it's almost overwhelming.
A person sitting down and laughing so hard they are holding their stomach and leaning back dramatically.

Examples

El chiste que contó fue mortal, lloré de la risa.

The joke he told was hilarious, I cried laughing.

La subida a la montaña estuvo mortal, casi no llego.

The climb up the mountain was brutal, I almost didn't make it.

tremendo

treh-MEN-dohtɾeˈmen.do

adjectiveC1Slang/Informal
Use 'tremendo' as slang to express strong praise for something impressive or remarkable, often used for qualities like talent or size.
A single, bright yellow star sparkling intensely and radiating light, surrounded by colorful celebratory confetti, representing something fantastic.

Examples

¡Qué tremenda voz tiene esa cantante!

What an amazing voice that singer has!

La cena que preparaste estaba tremenda.

The dinner you prepared was fantastic.

Positive Intensifier

In informal speech, 'tremendo' loses its original meaning of 'fearsome' and simply becomes a powerful way to say 'very good' or 'excellent.' Context determines if it's positive or negative.

Overusing in Formal Contexts

Mistake:Usando 'tremendo' para describir un logro científico en una tesis.

Correction: Use 'notable' or 'significativo' instead. 'Tremendo' is too casual for formal academic writing.

cañón

adjectiveC1Slang (Spain)
Use 'cañón' as slang in Spain to describe something as excellent or great, often referring to possessions like cars or technology.

Examples

¡Qué cañón está tu coche nuevo!

Your new car is so cool/awesome!

geniales

heh-nee-AH-lesxeˈnjales

adjectiveA1General
Use 'geniales' (plural of genial) for general approval when multiple things are great, fantastic, or excellent.
Two anthropomorphic, smiling golden stars high-fiving enthusiastically, symbolizing something excellent or great.

Examples

Tus ideas para la fiesta son geniales.

Your ideas for the party are great (or fantastic).

Mis amigos nuevos son muy geniales.

My new friends are very cool.

¡Qué geniales son esas zapatillas!

Those sneakers are so awesome!

Always Plural

'Geniales' is the plural form of 'genial.' You use it only when describing two or more people or things.

Overusing 'Genial' or 'Guay'

Learners often default to 'genial' or 'guay' because they are common and versatile. However, be mindful that 'guay' is more specific to Spain and 'genial' can sometimes imply cleverness rather than just impressiveness. For more intense praise, consider 'brutal' or 'mortal'.

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.