20 Spanish Compliments That People Love To Hear
Mastering some of the basic cumplidos or compliments in the Spanish language offers one an opportunity to express sincere appreciation and respect to the people around them. It is a life hack on its own since it does not only uplift the spirits of those who are blue or cranky but it also helps in building trust and confidence within themselves. In fact, one study showed that those who receive compliments and praises become even more motivated, making it a good strategy if you want someone to learn new skills or improve on their own.
And the best part of it all? Compliments literally cost us nothing, which is why you should never skimp on these kind words- may you be at work, school, or even online. In this post, we will walk you through some of the most basic Spanish compliments which you can use when speaking with foreigners or if you are planning to travel/work to Latin America or Spain.
10 Thoughtful Compliments For Coworkers
Even if you are not an administrator or a supervisor at the trabaja (or work), giving verbal compliments allows you to meaningfully and authentically connect with your coworkers. More often than not, the only time that employees learn that they are doing a good job is during the evaluation which usually just happens once a year. If you want others to put in extra effort and deliver excellent performances, it would be wise to shower them with genuine praises.
Ready to elevate the atmosphere at work? Below are a few examples of heartfelt compliments in Spanish that will instantly help your officemates outrun a dark cloud and pump them up no matter how hard the work is.
English | Spanish |
You’re working hard! | ¡Estás trabajando duro! |
I am proud of you! | ¡Estoy orgullosa(o) de ti! |
What a great idea | Qué idea tan genial |
I appreciate your work | Aprecio tu trabajo |
I believe in you | Creo en ti |
You’re smart! | ¡Eres listo! |
I loved your presentation | Me ha encantado la presentación |
You did an excellent job | Hiciste un excelente trabajo |
You have a very good work ethic! | ¡Tienes una muy buena ética de trabajo! |
Your performance exceeded my expectations | Su rendimiento superó mis expectativas |
10 Easy Compliments For Personal Life
When was the last time you actually mentioned something good about your friend or your family? Was it today? If not, then you are totally missing out on the chance to strengthen your relationship with them.
Being in the habit of constantly providing compliments to everyone we meet paves the way for us to appreciate and give thanks to the goodness and beauty around us. Not only does it help attract positive energy but it also can be a good conversation starter especially if you are a foreigner. To help you get started, below are some of the best types of compliments in Spanish that will instantly put a smile on the face of anyone and make them feel that strong “bond” towards you.
English | Spanish |
You look phenomenal | Te ves fenomenal |
I like your style | Me gusta tu estilo |
You have good taste | Tienes buen gusto |
You are in good shape | Estás en buena forma |
You are very kind | Eres muy amable |
I like your smile | Me gusta tu sonrisa |
You are cute | Eres lindo/linda |
That suits you well | Te queda bien |
You are an incredible friend | Eres un amigo increíble |
Your shirt looks cool | Tu camisa se ve genial |
10 Bonus Compliments
If you are also looking for other general compliments that you can use every day, we also have here 10 additional expressions that will seriously make an impact on others. Saying any of these at the appropriate time can do wonders and even pave the way to start cultivating a unique type of friendship.
English | Spanish |
You look radiant | Te ves radiante |
You make the world a better place | Mejoras el mundo |
You are a good person | Eres buena gente |
How pretty! / How handsome! | ¡Qué guapa! / ¡Qué guapo! |
You have a beautiful smile | Tienes una sonrisa muy bonita |
What a beautiful______ | Qué lindo/a______ |
That __ looks nice on you | Esa __ se ve bien en ti |
You are cute | Estás rico |
Kudos to the chef! | ¡Felicitaciones al chef! |
The color suits you well! | ¡Qué bien te queda ese color! |
It’s Now Time To Practice!
Now that we already have presented you with the best compliments to use in daily conversations at work and for life, allow us to give you a few tips on how you can practice saying this.
You see, boosting your skills in the Spanish language is not just about memorization but it also entails that one should be able to use all the learned words and expressions with confidence in real life.
Below are some of the top ways on how to practice:
1. Speak With Native Spanish Speakers
In order to get real-time feedback on whether your sentence construction including these compliments is correct, you should consider speaking with real native speakers. You can simply do this by joining a language exchange type of program. After all, language learning is truly about exposure and practice!
2. Watch Spanish Videos and Movies
To understand the most natural ways how the work-based compliments work, we highly recommend that you watch videos or movies and see how the actors pronounce everything. Not only is this a fun way to learn but you also get to pick up other words and expressions from the locals.
3. Download Worksheets for Practice
Look for additional Spanish language worksheets that will challenge your understanding of the basic expressions. Luckily, the internet is filled with a huge number of learning materials which means that it is entirely possible to download worksheets that are related to compliments. Here are 10 trustworthy websites to do so.
4. Explore Your Options in Apps
Purchase or download phrasebook mobile applications and look for topics related to everyday compliments and expressions. This language learning tool is ideal for travelers so that they will have something they can go over if they find an opportunity to speak in Spanish.
- 12 Best Spanish Vocabulary-Building Apps for Adults
- 8 Chat Apps to Practice Speaking Spanish With Your Phone
5. Sign Up for Language Lessons
Sign up for language lessons and look for education providers that have specific Spanish courses depending on proficiency. If you are planning to work in Spain or Latin America, you might consider looking for business Spanish classes. Oftentimes, classes are flexible but as a rule of thumb, do remember that you should look for those that have real native speakers so that you can get information that is not just from the textbook or workbook.
6. Take Advantage of Native Spanish News Media and Podcasts
If you are keen on developing a formal tone in the Spanish language, you should expose yourself to media such as business newspapers, podcasts, or social media news. This is a practical way of practicing the language as you can simply go to Google and search for “News + Spanish ” and you will be blown away with the number of available local resources that you can use.
- How to Use Mass Media in Spanish to Learn the Language
- 10 Secrets to Spanish Immersion Using Social Media
- 5 Spanish News Podcasts You Don’t Want to Miss
7. Start a Spanish Language Journal
If you are not comfortable with the idea of connecting with native speakers, one thing that you can also do is to create your own journal. Journaling is a fantastic choice not just for artistic people but also somehow motivates one to try to write on at least a page every single day. This can help you review vocabulary and improve your writing skills in Spanish. You can do this through a physical journal but you can also utilize websites like Twitter or Tumblr.
8. Use Flashcards for Regular Practice
If you are keen on practicing the compliments we have listed above, you might also want to turn them into flashcards so that you can try to quiz yourself whenever you have the time. You can do this by using traditional flashcards or using applications like Quizlet or Anki in order to also add spaced repetition techniques.
- How to Use Spanish Flashcards to Get Fluent Faster
- How to Use a Spaced Repetition Schedule to Learn Spanish Faster
No matter which of these ways you choose, do remember that you do not have to spend hours trying to learn it. In fact, you only need to spare at least 5-10 minutes per day in order for you to progress with your Spanish skills.
Start Speaking Spanish Today!
As we reach this part of the post, we hope that you will be able to find a chance to use any of these expressions when speaking with your Spanish friends, family, and colleagues. If you are the one receiving any of these compliments from other people, please do remember to say gracias por el cumplido which means “thanks for the compliment!”
If you are on the other side of the spectrum, do remember that giving compliments is like a psychological pat on the back and it can significantly impact the way we perceive work and life. They make the receivers of these kinds of expressions feel good about themselves and this can influence how their day will be because of you.
If the opportunity for speaking directly does not arise in itself, you can also practice through the tons of ways we have listed in this post. If you would like to take a step further and master the Spanish language, we highly recommend that you read our previous post about how you can master it within 6 months no matter your age.
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- 20 Spanish Compliments That People Love To Hear - October 1, 2021