Compliments in Spanish: 75 Essential Phrases for Every Situation

Compliments in Spanish (cumplidos or piropos) open doors to deeper connections and show respect for Spanish-speaking cultures worldwide. Whether you’re praising a colleague’s presentation in Mexico City or admiring a friend’s cooking in Barcelona, the right compliment creates warmth and builds trust.

What are the best compliments in Spanish?

Compliments in Spanish carry cultural weight that goes beyond simple politeness – they’re expressions of genuine appreciation that strengthen relationships. In Spanish-speaking cultures, offering sincere praise shows respect and creates instant rapport, whether you’re networking professionally or making new friends.

The key to effective Spanish compliments lies in gender and number agreement, where adjectives must match the person or thing you’re describing. For example, guapo (handsome) becomes guapa (beautiful) for women, and both become guapos or guapas in plural forms – this grammatical precision shows fluency and cultural awareness.

Here are five foundational compliments to start building your Spanish praise vocabulary:

• Guapo/Guapa (GWAH-poh/GWAH-pah) – Handsome/Beautiful

• Lindo/Linda (LEEN-doh/LEEN-dah) – Pretty/Lovely

• Talentoso/Talentosa (tah-len-TOH-soh/tah-len-TOH-sah) – Talented

• Amable (ah-MAH-bleh) – Kind/Nice

• Inteligente (in-teh-lee-HEN-teh) – Intelligent

You’ll master 75 carefully organized phrases that cover every situation from workplace praise to romantic expressions, ensuring you always have the perfect compliment ready.

Appearance compliments

Complimenting someone’s appearance requires cultural sensitivity and appropriate timing. These best Spanish compliments work well when you genuinely want to acknowledge someone’s style or looks in social settings where such comments are welcome.

1. Eres muy guapo/guapa – You’re very handsome/beautiful

2. Te ves increíble – You look incredible

3. Estás muy elegante – You look very elegant

4. Qué bien te queda esa ropa – Those clothes look great on you

5. Tienes una sonrisa preciosa – You have a beautiful smile

6. Me encanta tu estilo – I love your style

7. Te ves radiante – You look radiant

8. Qué ojos tan bonitos tienes – What beautiful eyes you have

9. Estás muy bien arreglado/arreglada – You’re very well put-together

10. Te sienta muy bien ese color – That color looks great on you

2. Personality and lifestyle compliments

Praising someone’s character creates deeper connections than focusing solely on physical appearance. These Spanish compliments for friends highlight the qualities that make people truly special and build meaningful relationships.

11. Eres muy considerado/considerada – You’re very thoughtful

12. Tienes un corazón muy grande – You have a very big heart

13. Eres una persona muy positiva – You’re a very positive person

14. Me encanta tu sentido del humor – I love your sense of humor

15. Eres muy generoso/generosa – You’re very generous

16. Tienes mucha paciencia – You have a lot of patience

17. Eres muy auténtico/auténtica – You’re very authentic

18. Me inspiras mucho – You inspire me a lot

19. Eres muy valiente – You’re very brave

20. Tienes una energía increíble – You have incredible energy

Spanish-speaking cultures deeply value personal warmth and genuine character, making these compliments particularly meaningful in building lasting relationships.

3. Work and study praise

Encouraging colleagues and students with Spanish compliments for work creates positive environments and motivates continued excellence. These phrases work perfectly in professional and academic settings where recognition boosts morale and productivity.

21. Hiciste un trabajo excelente – You did excellent work

22. Eres muy profesional – You’re very professional

23. Tienes mucho talento – You have a lot of talent

24. Tu presentación fue impresionante – Your presentation was impressive

25. Eres muy dedicado/dedicada – You’re very dedicated

26. Tienes ideas muy creativas – You have very creative ideas

27. Tu esfuerzo se nota – Your effort shows

28. Eres muy organizado/organizada – You’re very organized

29. Trabajas muy bien en equipo – You work very well in a team

30. Siempre das lo mejor de ti – You always give your best

These motivational phrases help create supportive work environments where everyone feels valued. If you’re looking to expand your professional Spanish vocabulary, learning how to introduce yourself in Spanish provides context for workplace interactions.

4. Compliments for possessions and places

When visiting someone’s home or admiring their belongings, these polite compliments in Spanish show appreciation and respect. Use them to acknowledge the effort people put into their spaces and possessions, whether you’re visiting a colleague’s office or a friend’s apartment.

31. Tienes una casa preciosa – You have a beautiful house

32. Me encanta tu jardín – I love your garden

33. Qué cocina tan bonita – What a beautiful kitchen

34. Tu carro está impecable – Your car is spotless

35. Tienes muy buen gusto – You have very good taste

36. Esta decoración es increíble – This decoration is incredible

37. Qué vista tan hermosa – What a beautiful view

38. Tu oficina está muy bien organizada – Your office is very well organized

39. Me fascina esta obra de arte – I’m fascinated by this artwork

40. Tienes una colección impresionante – You have an impressive collection

The key to sincere compliments lies in genuine appreciation – take a moment to notice specific details that truly catch your attention before offering praise.

5. Food and hospitality compliments

Spanish-speaking hosts take immense pride in their culinary skills and hospitality, making food-related compliments especially meaningful. These phrases show gratitude and appreciation for their efforts when dining with friends, family, or business associates.

41. La comida está deliciosa – The food is delicious

42. Cocinas increíblemente bien – You cook incredibly well

43. Este plato está exquisito – This dish is exquisite

44. Qué sabor tan rico – What a delicious flavor

45. Eres un/una chef excelente – You’re an excellent chef

46. Me encanta esta receta – I love this recipe

47. Todo está perfecto – Everything is perfect

48. Tienes manos de oro para cocinar – You have golden hands for cooking

49. Esta cena está espectacular – This dinner is spectacular

50. Gracias por esta comida tan rica – Thank you for this delicious meal

After complimenting the meal, consider offering help with a polite follow-up like ¿Puedo ayudar con los platos? (Can I help with the dishes?) to show additional appreciation.

6. Flirty slang compliments

The tradition of piropos (flirty compliments) exists throughout Spanish-speaking cultures, but context and respect are crucial when using these romantic compliments in Spanish. These flirty Spanish phrases work best with people you know well and in appropriate social settings where romantic interest is mutual and welcome.

Use casual intensifiers like súper (super) and tan (so) to add playful emphasis to your compliments. These words make your praise feel more contemporary and relaxed while maintaining the warmth that Spanish speakers love.

51. Estás súper guapo/guapa – You’re super handsome/beautiful

52. Eres tan atractivo/atractiva – You’re so attractive

53. Me tienes loco/loca – You drive me crazy

54. Eres irresistible – You’re irresistible

55. Qué sexy te ves – You look so sexy

56. Eres un bombón – You’re a hottie

57. Me encantas – I’m crazy about you

58. Estás para comerte – You look good enough to eat

59. Eres puro fuego – You’re pure fire

60. Me robaste el corazón – You stole my heart

Always read body language and respect boundaries when using these phrases – what feels playful to one person might feel uncomfortable to another.

7. Formal or respectful compliments

When addressing elders, authority figures, or people you don’t know well, switch to usted (formal “you”) instead of tú (informal “you”). These respectful phrases maintain appropriate social distance while showing appreciation in professional or formal social contexts.

61. Es usted muy amable – You are very kind

62. Usted tiene mucha experiencia – You have a lot of experience

63. Su trabajo es impresionante – Your work is impressive

64. Es usted muy sabio/sabia – You are very wise

65. Admiro su dedicación – I admire your dedication

66. Usted es muy profesional – You are very professional

67. Su presentación fue excelente – Your presentation was excellent

68. Es usted una persona muy respetable – You are a very respectable person

69. Su conocimiento es admirable – Your knowledge is admirable

70. Usted inspira mucho respeto – You inspire a lot of respect

The choice between tú and usted depends on age differences, social hierarchy, and regional customs, with usted being the safer choice when uncertain about the appropriate level of formality.

8. Versatile everyday compliments

These five phrases work in almost any situation, making them perfect additions to your daily Spanish conversations. They’re your go-to options when you want to brighten someone’s day without worrying about context or formality levels.

71. Eres increíble – You’re incredible

72. Qué buena persona eres – What a good person you are

73. Me caes muy bien – I really like you

74. Siempre me alegras el día – You always brighten my day

75. Eres muy especial – You’re very special

With these 5 versatile phrases, you’ve now learned all 75 compliments in Spanish from our comprehensive Spanish compliments list. For more everyday conversation starters, check out how to ask “how are you” in Spanish to expand your conversational toolkit.

Practice compliments with exercises

Active practice transforms memorized phrases into natural conversation skills that you can use confidently with Spanish speakers. These targeted exercises help you master the grammar patterns and cultural nuances that make your compliments sound authentic and appropriate.

Fill-in-the-blank agreement drill

Complete each sentence by choosing the correct adjective ending to match the person being described:

1. María es muy guap___ (o/a)

2. Los estudiantes están muy content___ (o/os/a/as)

3. Mi hermano es muy inteligent___ (e/es)

4. Las chicas se ven elegant___ (e/es)

5. El profesor es muy amab___ (le/les)

Multiple choice usted vs. tú

Choose whether to use tú or usted in each situation:

1. Complimenting your boss on a presentation: (tú/usted)

2. Telling your best friend they look great: (tú/usted)

3. Praising an elderly neighbor’s garden: (tú/usted)

4. Complimenting a classmate’s project: (tú/usted)

5. Thanking a store clerk for their help: (tú/usted)

Check your answers in the answer key section to see how well you’ve mastered these important concepts.

Compliments in real life

These scenarios show how to incorporate your new Spanish compliments into authentic conversations and social situations. Practice using these phrases in context to build natural fluency and confidence with native speakers.

At a work presentation

• Tu presentación fue impresionante. Explicaste los datos muy claramente (Your presentation was impressive. You explained the data very clearly)

This professional praise acknowledges specific skills while maintaining workplace appropriateness. Learning how to introduce yourself in Spanish provides additional tools for building rapport in professional settings.

Meeting new friends

• Me encanta tu estilo. ¿Dónde compraste esa chaqueta?”(I love your style. Where did you buy that jacket?)

This compliment opens the door to further conversation while showing genuine interest in the person.

Expressing support during tough times

• Admiro tu fortaleza. Siempre encuentras la manera de seguir adelante (I admire your strength. You always find a way to keep going)

Supporting friends through difficulties requires sensitivity and genuine care in your word choice. Understanding feelings in Spanish helps you offer more nuanced emotional support when people need encouragement most.

Speak up with confidence on Preply

Real progress in Spanish happens through meaningful conversations with native speakers who understand your learning goals. While memorizing compliments provides a foundation, practicing them in authentic contexts with experienced tutors accelerates your fluency development.

Our global platform connects you with over 100,000 expert tutors teaching 90+ languages, combining human expertise with innovative AI tools like Lesson Insights and Scenario Practice. These personalized learning experiences adapt to your pace and help you master culturally appropriate compliments through guided practice.

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Explore personalized sessions with our online Spanish tutors and put your new compliments into action through real-time feedback and cultural guidance. Find a tutor and start learning today.

Answers to compliments exercises

Answers to fill-in-the-blank agreement drill

1. María es muy guapa (María is very beautiful) – Feminine singular adjective matches María

2. Los estudiantes están muy contentos (The students are very happy) – Masculine plural matches mixed or all-male group

3. Mi hermano es muy inteligente (My brother is very intelligent) – Adjective ending in -e doesn’t change for gender

4. Las chicas se ven elegantes (The girls look elegant) – Feminine plural matches las chicas

5. El profesor es muy amable (The teacher is very kind) – Adjective ending in -e stays the same

Answers to multiple choice usted vs. tú

1. Usted – Professional hierarchy requires formal address with supervisors

2. Tú – Close friendships use informal pronouns regardless of age

3. Usted – Age and respect considerations favor formal treatment

4. Tú – Peer relationships in educational settings typically use informal address

5. Usted – Service interactions often maintain professional distance with formal pronouns

FAQs about compliments in Spanish

What is another word for compliment in Spanish?

Besides el cumplido (the compliment), you can use el halago (flattery) or el elogio (praise), though cumplido remains the most common term for everyday compliments. Each word carries slightly different connotations depending on the context.

How do you respond politely to a compliment in Spanish?

Say “Muchas gracias” (Thank you very much) or “Qué amable” (How kind of you). Avoid deflecting with “No es cierto” (It’s not true) as this can seem ungracious in Spanish-speaking cultures.

Which Spanish compliments work for both men and women?

Use adjectives that don’t change with gender: inteligente (intelligent), amable (kind), profesional (professional), increíble (incredible), and especial (special). These work universally without agreement concerns.

Can I use “linda” for objects or only for people?

Linda (pretty/cute) works for both people and objects, making it very versatile. You can say “Qué linda casa” (What a pretty house) or “Eres muy linda” (You’re very pretty).

Is it acceptable to compliment strangers in Spanish-speaking countries?

Brief, respectful compliments about clothing or general appearance are generally acceptable, but avoid personal or intimate comments. Cultural norms vary by country and region, so observe local customs.

What’s the difference between “guapo” and “hermoso“?

Guapo/guapa (handsome/beautiful) is more casual and commonly used for people, while hermoso/hermosa (beautiful) is more formal and can describe people, places, or things. Both require gender agreement.