Qué simpático.
How nice.
Qué in front of an adjective turns it into a quick exclamation about someone: how nice.
From Dr. Cable · Spanish audio
Spanish vocabularyA1 · Beginner
How to say "nice" in Spanish
simpático
adjectivefeminine: simpáticaplural: simpáticos
"Nice" for a person in Spanish is simpático, or simpática for a woman. It means friendly and easy to like. For a nice day, place or meal, Spanish switches to agradable or bonito.
Hear "simpático" in a real movie scene
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Which "nice" do you mean?
English uses one word. Spanish picks a different one for people, things and reactions.
| Spanish | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| simpático | A friendly, likeable person | Tu hermano es muy simpático. (Your brother is very nice.) |
| amable | Someone who is kind or polite to you | Es usted muy amable. (You're very kind.) |
| agradable | A pleasant place, day or evening | una tarde agradable (a nice afternoon) |
| bonito | Something nice to look at | una casa bonita (a nice house) |
| ¡Qué bien! | Reacting to good news | ¡Qué bien! (How nice! That's great!) |
Tip: Simpático is a false friend. It means likeable, and the Spanish for sympathetic, in the sense of understanding, is comprensivo.
Grammar: simpático, simpática
Four things to get right when you describe someone.
Four forms
simpático, simpática, simpáticos, simpáticas. The written accent stays in all four.Ser for personality
Ana es muy simpática. With estar it means nice right now: Hoy está muy simpático.Gente and persona are feminine
La gente es simpática. Juan es una persona simpática. The adjective follows the noun, even for a man.Stress the pa
Say seem-PAH-tee-koh, with the stress where the accent mark is.Example sentences
Sentences from the Wordy Spanish course. Tap to listen.
La gente de Suiza es simpática.
People in Switzerland are nice.
Ana es muy simpática.
Ana is very nice.
Ana es una persona muy simpática.
Ana is a very nice person.
Sí, es simpático.
Yes, he's nice.
Common mistakes
Mistakes learners make with this word, and how to fix them.
✗Ella es muy simpático.
✓Ella es muy simpática.
For a woman, the adjective ends in -a.
✗La gente son simpáticos.
✓La gente es simpática.
Gente is a singular, feminine noun, so the verb and the adjective follow it.
✗Es un día simpático.
✓Es un día agradable.
Simpático is mostly for people. For a day, a place or a meal, say agradable or bonito.
Practice: 3 quick exercises
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How to remember it
Picture a simple, warm smile: a simpático person smiles at you, and you like them right away.
Questions about "nice" in Spanish
How do you say nice in Spanish?
For a person, simpático, or simpática for a woman. For a day, a place or a meal, use agradable or bonito.
Does simpático mean sympathetic?
No. Simpático means friendly and likeable. For sympathetic in the sense of understanding, say comprensivo.
What's the difference between simpático and amable?
Simpático describes someone's personality. Amable means kind or polite, often about what someone does for you: Es usted muy amable.
How do you say "nice to meet you" in Spanish?
Mucho gusto, or encantado (encantada if you're a woman).
