Encontré este libro viejo en una feria, ¡Qué joya!
I found this old book at a market, what a gem!
¡Qué joya de canción!
What a gem of a song!
¡Qué joya el final de la película!
The ending of the movie is a gem.
Tu abuela contando historias, ¡qué joya!
Your grandmother telling stories is a treasure.
Similar words
¡Qué maravilla!
¡Qué increíble!
¡Qué pasada!
una maravilla
¡Qué genial!
una joya
Meanings
Usage
Use Qué joya for a quick admiring reaction, and use una joya when the phrase sits inside a normal sentence.
Common mistakes
Una qué joya is used where Spanish needs una joya, and literal jewelry questions are confused with the figurative expression.
Etymology
Based on joya, Spanish for a jewel or gem, whose figurative sense can describe a person or thing of great value.
FAQ
What does Qué joya mean?
Qué joya means something like what a gem, used to praise a person, thing, joke, song, or moment.
Is Qué joya literal?
It can be literal in a question about jewelry, but as an expression it is figurative and means that something is excellent or delightful.
Can Qué joya be used inside a sentence?
As an exclamation, Qué joya stands well on its own. Inside a sentence, Spanish usually uses una joya, as in Ese libro es una joya.
Is Qué joya formal?
Qué joya is informal and conversational, common in relaxed speech, comments, and social media.
How do you translate Qué joya?
Natural English translations include what a gem, a gem, a treasure, or sometimes awesome, depending on the sentence.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
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Wise Badger
Jul 4
que joya de expresion, la voy a robar
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Frosty Skylark
Jul 1
This one is very comment-section Spanish. People use qué joya for an old song they found again, a ridiculous meme, some grandma being funny, a tiny restaurant that should be famous. It has more warmth than just bueno.
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Contribution
Snowy Kingfisher
Jun 13
In Argentina and Uruguay, joya by itself can also mean great or all good. Like if someone says nos vemos a las 8, you can answer joya. So qué joya may feel even more casual there, not fancy at all.