Learn essential Spanish adjectives like bonito (pretty), feo (ugly), bueno (good), malo (bad), fuerte (strong), and débil (weak) to describe appearance, quality, and intensity in everyday contexts.
  1. Use bonito and feo to describe appearance.
  2. Use bueno and malo to rate something in general terms.
  3. Use fuerte and débil for degrees of intensity.
Adjetivo (Adjective)Ejemplo (Example)
Bonito (Pretty)El color del pasaporte es muy bonito. (The colour of the passport is very pretty.)
Feo (Ugly)El piloto es feo. (The pilot is ugly.)
Bueno (Good)El vuelo ha sido bueno. (The flight has been good.)
Malo (Bad)La instrucción ha sido mala. (The instruction has been bad.)
Fuerte (Strong)El cinturón de seguridad está fuerte. (The seatbelt is tight.)
Débil (Weak)El audio es débil. (The audio is weak.)

Exercise 1: Adjectives: "Bonito", "Feo", "Bueno", "Malo", etc ...

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

malo, bonito, bueno, fuerte, débil

1.
Mucha calidad: El control de seguridad es ....
(High quality: The security check is good.)
2.
Poca intensidad: El cinturón de seguridad está ..., asegúrate de ponértelo bien.
(Low intensity: The seatbelt is weak, make sure you fasten it properly.)
3.
Poca intensidad: La instrucción para el embarque ha sido ..., no ha estado muy clara.
(Low intensity: The instruction for boarding has been weak, it has not been very clear.)
4.
Mucha intensidad: La señal de seguridad en el aeropuerto es ....
(High intensity: The safety signal at the airport is strong.)
5.
Poca calidad: El servicio en el mostrador ha sido ..., hemos tenido que esperar mucho tiempo.
(Poor quality: The service at the counter has been bad, we have had to wait a long time.)
6.
Mucha calidad: El vuelo ha sido ..., sin retrasos y problemas.
(High quality: The flight was good, without delays or problems.)
7.
Poca calidad: El vuelo de esta mañana ha estado ..., el piloto ha parecido cansado.
(Poor quality: This morning's flight has been bad, the pilot seemed tired.)
8.
Buena apariencia: El pasaporte que llevas es ..., con un diseño elegante.
(Good appearance: The passport you carry is nice, with an elegant design.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence that properly uses descriptive adjectives to describe typical situations at the airport and on the plane.

1.
'Malo' is not used to describe appearance; it indicates a general negative evaluation.
'Bueno' is not used to describe appearance, but rather to value something in general terms.
2.
'Fea' is used to describe physical appearance, not to evaluate food.
'Débil' indicates intensity or strength, it is not suitable to qualify food.
3.
'Malo' does not describe intensity and the sentence is contradictory.
'Bonito' describes appearance, not resistance or strength.
4.
'Bueno' is not used to describe appearance, but general qualities.
'Fuerte' indicates physical strength or intensity, it does not describe appearance in this context.

Understanding Spanish Adjectives: "Bonito", "Feo", "Bueno", "Malo", and More

This lesson focuses on common Spanish adjectives used to describe qualities and characteristics, providing clear examples and explanations ideal for A2 level learners. It introduces adjectives that express strong degrees of qualities, helping you enhance your descriptive skills in everyday conversations and practical situations.

Key Adjectives Covered

  • Bonito – used to describe something or someone as "pretty" or "nice looking". Example: El color del pasaporte es muy bonito.
  • Feo – means "ugly" or unpleasant in appearance. Example: El piloto es feo.
  • Bueno – means "good," used generally to rate things positively. Example: El vuelo ha sido bueno.
  • Malo – means "bad," often describing something negatively in general terms. Example: La instrucción ha sido mala.
  • Fuerte – translates to "strong," used when describing strength or intensity. Example: El cinturón de seguridad está fuerte.
  • Débil – means "weak," indicating a lower degree of strength or intensity. Example: El audio es débil.

Usage Tips

Adjectives like bonito and feo specifically describe appearance. In contrast, bueno and malo express general evaluations about quality or condition. Meanwhile, fuerte and débil communicate intensity or strength levels.

Differences between English and Spanish Adjectives

Unlike English, Spanish adjectives usually change form depending on the gender and number of the noun they modify. For example, bueno becomes buena for feminine nouns. Also, adjectives often follow the noun in Spanish, whereas in English they come before. For instance, un vuelo bueno literally translates as "a flight good," not "a good flight."

Common phrases you can use include:

  • es muy bonito/a — it is very pretty
  • parece feo/a — seems ugly
  • está bueno/a — it is good
  • es malo/a — it is bad
  • es fuerte — it is strong
  • es débil — it is weak

Developing familiarity with these adjectives and their contexts will help you describe people, objects, and experiences effectively in Spanish.

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Alessia Calcagni

Languages for communication in international enterprises and organizations

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

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Last Updated:

Monday, 01/09/2025 22:36