Spanish Compliments: 30 Nice Things to Say in Spanish

A sincere compliment opens hearts in any language, and in Spanish-speaking families it's practically expected, especially about food. Here's how to say nice things naturally.

Food (the most important category)

• ¡Qué rico! — How delicious!
• Está riquísimo. — It's super delicious.
• ¡Qué buena sazón! — What great seasoning! (big compliment for a cook in Mexico)
• Le quedó delicioso. — It turned out delicious.
• Usted cocina increíble. — You cook amazingly.
• ¿Me pasa la receta? — Can you give me the recipe? (the highest compliment)
• Huele delicioso. — It smells delicious.

Homes

• ¡Qué bonita casa! — What a beautiful house!
• Qué acogedor. — How cozy.
• Me encanta cómo lo tienes decorado. — I love how you've decorated it.

Appearance

• ¡Qué guapo/guapa! — How handsome/pretty!
• Te ves muy bien. — You look great.
• Ese color te queda muy bien. — That color suits you.
• ¡Qué bonito vestido! — What a pretty dress!
• Estás igualito/igualita. — You haven't changed a bit (to someone you haven't seen in years).

Personality

• Eres muy amable. — You're very kind.
• Eres un amor. — You're a sweetheart.
• Qué buena onda eres. — You're so cool/nice (Mexico).
• Tienes un corazón de oro. — You have a heart of gold.
• Me caes muy bien. — I really like you (as a person).

Work and skills

• ¡Buen trabajo! — Good job!
• Lo hiciste muy bien. — You did very well.
• Hablas muy bien inglés. — You speak English very well.
• Tienes mucho talento. — You're very talented.
• ¡Qué crack! — You're a star! (casual)

Kids (families love this)

• ¡Qué niño tan lindo! — What a cute kid!
• ¡Cómo ha crecido! — How much he/she has grown!
• Está enorme. — He/she is so big now.

Accepting compliments

Spanish speakers often deflect politely:

• Gracias, muy amable. — Thanks, very kind.
• Ay, no es para tanto. — Oh, it's nothing special.
• Gracias, tú también. — Thanks, you too.
• Me alegra que te guste. — I'm glad you like it.

Mini dialogue at a family dinner

• You: Señora, este mole está riquísimo. ¡Qué buena sazón!
• Suegra: Ay, gracias, mijo. Es receta de mi mamá.
• You: ¿Me pasa la receta?
• Suegra: ¡Claro que sí!

See meeting your partner's family.

Practice

Compliments sound natural only after you've said them a few times. Practice them in Lolo's café and family calls, then use them at your next family dinner. See also polite Spanish phrases.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "delicious" in Spanish?

Delicioso or, more casually, rico and riquísimo.

What does "qué buena onda" mean?

"How nice/cool". It describes a friendly, positive person or situation (Mexico).

How do I compliment someone's cooking in Spanish?

¡Está riquísimo! ¡Qué buena sazón! And ask for the recipe.