bueno

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good, good, well, okay, good one
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/ˈbwe.no/
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Describes something as good, can refer to moral quality, serve as an interjection meaning “well”, or act as a noun for the good one, and appears in various gender and number forms.

Examples

  • Encontré una solución buena al problema.
    I found a good solution to the problem.
  • ¿Quién es el bueno en este juego?
    Who is the good one in this game?
  • —¿Qué opinas? —¡Bueno, me parece bien!
    —What do you think? —Okay, it seems fine to me.
  • La película fue buena, la disfruté mucho.
    The movie was good, I enjoyed it a lot.
  • —¿Terminaste? —¡Bueno!
    —Did you finish? —Okay!

Similar words

positivo
agradable
ventaja
valioso
adecuado
correcto
entendido
excelente
ok
excelente

Meanings

Good in quality or condition

adjective
everyday
neutral
Describes something that meets a satisfactory standard or is of high quality.

Usage

Use bueno to describe objects, food, or results that are good, matching gender and number with the noun.

Examples

  • Este café está bueno.
    This coffee is good.
  • La película fue buena, la disfruté mucho.
    The movie was good, I enjoyed it a lot.
  • Compró un coche buen a un precio razonable.
    He bought a good car at a reasonable price.
  • Los resultados del examen fueron buenos.
    The exam results were good.
  • Encontré una solución buena al problema.
    I found a good solution to the problem.

Common mistakes

Confusing bueno with the adverb bien, and mismatching gender or placement.
IncorrectCorrect
Este café está bien. Este café está bueno.
La película fue bueno. La película fue buena.
Compró un coche bueno. Compró un coche buen.

Similar words

Good in moral or personal quality

adjective
everyday
neutral
Used to describe a person who is kind, virtuous, or behaves well.

Usage

When referring to a person's character, use bueno (or buena) and place it after the noun or use the apocopated buen before the noun.

Examples

  • Mi vecino es un hombre bueno.
    My neighbor is a good man.
  • Ella es buena con los niños.
    She is good with children.
  • Siempre actúa de manera buena.
    He always acts in a good way.
  • Los buenos de la historia son recordados.
    The good people in history are remembered.
  • Es un buen ejemplo de liderazgo.
    He is a good example of leadership.

Common mistakes

Leaving the adjective before the noun without apocope and mixing gender.
IncorrectCorrect
Mi vecino es un hombre bueno. Mi vecino es un buen hombre.
Ella es bueno con los niños. Ella es buena con los niños.
Actúa de manera bueno. Actúa de manera buena.

Similar words

Well, okay (interjection)

interjection
everyday
informal
Used to signal agreement, to start a response, or to transition in conversation.

Usage

Use bueno as an interjection at the start of a reply to mean “well” or “okay”.

Examples

  • —¿Quieres ir al cine? —¡Bueno!, vamos.
    —Do you want to go to the movies? —Well, let's go.
  • ¡Bueno, ya basta!
    Well, that's enough!
  • —¿Terminaste? —¡Bueno!
    —Did you finish? —Okay!
  • ¡Bueno, lo intentaré mañana!
    Okay, I'll try tomorrow.
  • —¿Qué opinas? —¡Bueno, me parece bien!
    —What do you think? —Okay, it seems fine to me.

Common mistakes

Applying the interjection where an adjective is needed, or omitting punctuation.
IncorrectCorrect
¡Bueno la comida! ¡La comida está buena!
¡Bueno, sí! ¡Bueno, sí!
¡Bueno, vamos! ¡Bueno, vamos!

Similar words

The good one / good thing

noun
everyday
neutral
Refers to the person or thing that is good, often contrasted with “the bad one”.

Usage

When bueno functions as a noun, include the article and use it to contrast with its opposite.

Examples

  • Entre los candidatos, el bueno es el que tiene más experiencia.
    Among the candidates, the good one is the one with the most experience.
  • Prefiero el bueno al malo.
    I prefer the good over the bad.
  • El bueno de la historia siempre gana.
    The good in history always wins.
  • ¿Quién es el bueno en este juego?
    Who is the good one in this game?
  • El bueno de la película me hizo llorar.
    The good part of the movie made me cry.

Common mistakes

Dropping the article or failing to bold the noun form.
IncorrectCorrect
El bueno es el que tiene más experiencia. El bueno es el que tiene más experiencia.
Prefiero el bueno al malo. Prefiero el bueno al malo.
Bueno es importante. El bueno es importante.

Similar words

Usage

Use context to decide whether bueno is an adjective, an interjection, or a noun, and match gender and number with the noun it modifies.

Common mistakes

The most common error is using bueno where the adverb bien is required, such as ‘Estoy bueno’ instead of ‘Estoy bien’.

Etymology

From Latin bonus ‘good’, via Old Spanish buen.

FAQ

What does bueno mean in Spanish?

bueno means “good” as an adjective, can also be used as an interjection meaning “well” or “okay”, and as a noun for “the good one”.

How do I use bueno with nouns?

Place bueno after the noun and make it agree in gender and number, or use the shortened form buen before a masculine singular noun.

When is bueno used as an interjection?

Use bueno at the start of a reply to signal agreement or to transition, similar to “well” or “okay”.

What is the feminine form of bueno?

The feminine form is buena.

Is there a noun form of bueno?

Yes, el bueno refers to “the good one” or “the good” in contrast with its opposite.

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