How to give a compliment in Spanish
One of the most important things that you can do to vastly accelerate your Spanish language acquisition is to study abroad. This is a topic that we’ve covered many times on this website. It should come as no surprise to our readers that immersing yourself in Spanish-speaking culture will cause you to absorb the Spanish language at a much faster rate. Surrounding yourself with Spanish newspapers, menus, and street signs will literally force you to adapt if you want to be successful.
However, what you get out of a study abroad program (or even any international travel to a Spanish-speaking country for that matter) is much more than what you read and see. It goes much beyond the language in which you order your morning eggs and toast, or what language the local newscaster uses to tell you what the weather will be like. The most critical learning factor in any exchange program is the human connections that you make. Interactions with real people will give you real-time feedback on what you are doing right (and wrong!) in terms of your accent, pronunciation, grammar, overall composure… Everything! It’s also probably the most motivating way to learn from your mistakes and grow as a Spanish learner.
How can you make new friends in an environment where they may be a language barrier? Well, if you’ve never read the business classic “How To Win Friends and Influence People” by the great Dale Carnegie, here’s a quick preview: compliment them! Everybody loves to be complimented (in Spanish OR in English)!
Ok, we’re being a bit tongue in cheek; there’s much more to making friends than tossing meaningless compliments at strangers, and a compliment is only as good as it is sincere. But still, having a handful of Spanish compliments as ammunition in your arsenal will certainly be helpful as you navigate new social situations in a new language.
Useful Spanish compliments all new language learners should master
Whether you’re trying to make friends, become a pickup master (use at your own peril!), Want to learn some Spanish compliments for a girlfriend, or just learn some new phrases to butter up a professor, here are the most useful compliments in Spanish.
Spanish compliments for women
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Qué bonita! | How beautiful! |
| Eres buena | You are a good person |
| Estás buena | You are hot |
| Estás rica | You are sexy |
| Estás hermosa. | You look beautiful. |
| Te ves estupenda | You look stupendous |
| ¡Eres lista! | You're smart! |
Spanish compliments for men
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¡Qué elegante! | How elegant! |
| Eres bueno | You are a good person |
| Estás rico | You are cute |
| Estás bueno | You are hot |
| Estás guapo. | You look handsome. |
| Te ves estupendo | You look stupendous |
| ¡Eres listo! | You're smart! |
Gender neutral Spanish compliments
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¡Buen trabajo! | Great job! |
| Encantado de conocerte | Great to meet you |
| Aprecio tu trabajo. | I appreciate your work. |
| Creo en ti. | I believe in you. |
| ¡No puedo esperar para volver a verte! | I can’t wait to see you |
| Tu presencia es agradable. | I like being around you |
| Me gusta tu sonrisa | I like your smile |
| Me gusta tu estilo | I like your style |
| Estoy orgullosa(o) de ti | I'm proud of you. |
| He estado pensando en ti | I’ve been thinking about you |
| Esa __ se ve bien en ti. | That __ looks nice on you. |
| Te queda bien | That suits you well |
| Eres un tesoro | You are a treasure |
| Eres un amigo increíble. | You are an incredible friend. |
| Tienes un gran sentido del humor. | You have a good sense of humor. |
| Que bella sonrisa | You have a gorgeous smile |
| Tienes una habilidad con las palabras. | You have a way with words. |
| Tienes buen gusto. | You have good taste. |
| Te ves preciosa. | You look gorgeous. |
| Te ves fenomenal | You look phenomenal |
| Te ves radiante | You look radiant. |
| Haces que yo quiera ser una mejor persona. | You make me want to be a better person. |
| Tu mejoras el mundo. | You make the world a better place. |
| Muy amable. | You're very kind |
| ¡Tú eres chistoso! | You’re funny! |
| Su rendimiento superó mis expectativas. | Your performance exceeded my expectations. |
| Tu sonrisa es hermosa. | Your smile is beautiful. |
More adjectives for complimenting in Spanish
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| buena gente | a good person |
| un/a trabajador/a | a hard worker |
| aventurero/a | adventurous |
| cariñoso/a | affectionate |
| atractivo/a | attractive |
| alegre | cheerful |
| seguro/a | confident |
| elegante | elegant |
| coqueto/a | flirtatious |
| simpático/a | friendly |
| divertido/a | fun |
| gracioso/a | funny |
| en buena forma | in good shape |
| independiente | independent |
| inteligente | intelligent |
| interesante | interesting |
| tranquilo/a | laid back |
| amable | nice |
| abierto/a | open |
| romántico/a | romantic |
| sensual | sensual |
| sexy | sexy |
| listo/a | smart |
| dulce | sweet |
Frequently asked questions about Spanish compliments
What is the difference between Hermosa and Bonita?
Bonita is generally translated as “beautiful”, linda is generally understood to mean “cute” or “nice”, whereas hermosa typically indicates that you think someone is “gorgeous”.
Words like bonita, linda and hermosa are feminine (ending in -a), so they should solely be used to talk about female people or nouns. The male versions of these words (bonito, lindo and hermoso) can have slightly different definitions and connotations. Guapa and guapo are also considered very flattering words and should be peppered into your Spanish compliments.
What are some ways to respond to compliments in Spanish?
The simplest and most down-to-Earth way to accept compliments in Spanish is a plain “gracias” (thank you), or something like “gracias, tu estas muy simpatico/a” (you’re very nice). It’s also quite common to say “muy amable”, which roughly translates to “how kind of you”. “Thanks for the compliment” in Spanish would be “gracias por el cumplido” or “gracias por el halago”.
What compliments do Spanish girls love?
Our favorite Spanish compliments is: Eres como una estrella, tan bella para admirarla y tan lejana para tocarla (“You’re like a star, so beautiful to admire and so far to touch”). Try some of these out a few times before testing them on a stranger so you don’t accidentally say something offensive or awkward! Now that you have mastered these best Spanish compliments, you’re on your own. Get out there and use them!
And good job!
Complimenting someone can help a relationship develop more quickly because it shows that you appreciate and value the other person. When someone receives a compliment, they feel good about themselves and their efforts, which can improve their self-esteem and confidence. This can make them feel more positive and open towards the person giving the compliment, leading to a stronger connection and deeper trust between the two individuals. Additionally, complimenting someone can also make them feel more comfortable and relaxed around you, creating a more relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for the relationship to develop. Overall, complimenting someone is a simple yet effective way to foster a positive and respectful relationship that can grow and develop more quickly.
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