Portuguese · Emotions & Descriptions
"Beautiful" in Portuguese: bonito/a
bonito/a
Note: also: lindo/a
Beautiful in Portuguese is bonito for masculine nouns and bonita for feminine ones: um dia bonito, uma cidade bonita. When something is really stunning, Brazilians say lindo or linda. Both work for people, places, and things.
Sightseeing
Que vista bonita! Dá pra ver a praia inteira daqui.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce bonito/a
Say it
boh-NEE-too
/boˈnitu/
Stress the middle syllable: boh-NEE-too. In Brazil the final o is a short "oo", and bonita ends in a soft "tah". Lindo is LEEN-doo, with a nasal i: start to say "lean" and let the n hum through your nose.
"Beautiful" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| bonito / bonita | beautiful, pretty, good-looking The default word. Bonito is also how you say "handsome" for a man. | The default word. Bonito is also how you say "handsome" for a man. |
| lindo / linda | gorgeous, lovely Stronger and very common in Brazil, for looks and for kind gestures. | Stronger and very common in Brazil, for looks and for kind gestures. |
| belo / bela | beautiful More literary. You see it in songs, poems, and names like Belo Horizonte. | More literary. You see it in songs, poems, and names like Belo Horizonte. |
| Que lindo! | How beautiful! A quick reaction to a view, a baby, or good news. | A quick reaction to a view, a baby, or good news. |
| giro / gira | pretty, cute PT-PT casual word. Brazilians use fofo/a for "cute" instead. | PT-PT casual word. Brazilians use fofo/a for "cute" instead. |
How to use bonito/a in real life
- 1Sightseeing
Que vista bonita! Dá pra ver a praia inteira daqui.
What a beautiful view! You can see the whole beach from here.
Dá pra (you can) is a relaxed spoken form of dá para.
- 2Giving a compliment
Seu vestido é muito bonito. Onde você comprou?
Your dress is really pretty. Where did you buy it?
Vestido is masculine, so it is bonito even though a woman is wearing it.
- 3Seeing a friend's baby
Que bebê bonito! Ele parece com o pai.
What a beautiful baby! He looks like his dad.
Bonito works for babies and pets; lindo is a warmer alternative you will also hear.
Mistakes English speakers make with bonito/a
Incorrect: Essa praia é muito bonito.
Correct: Essa praia é muito bonita.
Praia (beach) is feminine, so the adjective ends in -a. Check the noun, not the speaker.
Incorrect: Você é bonita hoje!
Correct: Você está bonita hoje!
With hoje (today) you are talking about how someone looks right now, so use estar. Você é bonita means she is beautiful in general.
Good to know
Brazilians use lindo and linda generously, and not only for looks. A thoughtful message can be lindo, and a friend may reply to good news with Que lindo! Bonito is also a place name: Bonito, in Mato Grosso do Sul, is a small town famous for its crystal-clear rivers, where visitors go snorkeling.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Showing a friend your travel photos
ChatPal
Que foto bonita! Onde você tirou?
What a beautiful photo! Where did you take it?
You
Em Paraty. A cidade é muito bonita, com ruas de pedra.
In Paraty. The town is really beautiful, with stone streets.
ChatPal
Nossa, que lindo! E as praias?
Wow, how lovely! And the beaches?
You
As praias são lindas também, mas choveu um pouco.
The beaches are beautiful too, but it rained a bit.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Beautiful" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Beautiful" in Portuguese
What is the difference between bonito and lindo?
Bonito is the neutral word for beautiful or pretty. Lindo is stronger, closer to "gorgeous" or "lovely", and it sounds warmer. In Brazil, people use lindo very often in daily life.
Can I call a man bonito?
Yes. Ele é bonito is the usual way to say "he is handsome". You don't need a separate word for handsome: bonito and lindo work for everyone.
When do I use bonita instead of bonito?
Use bonita with feminine nouns: a casa bonita, uma flor bonita. Use bonito with masculine ones: o carro bonito. The plurals are bonitos and bonitas.
Do people in Portugal say bonito too?
Yes, bonito and lindo are used in Portugal as well. For "pretty" or "cute" in casual speech, Portuguese people often say giro or gira, a word that sounds unusual in Brazil.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
