How do you say good girl in Spanish?

The feminine equivalent is 'buena chica' or 'buena niña' for a person, and 'buena perra' for a female dog — note that 'buena' does not shorten before feminine nouns.

When do you use buen niño versus buen chico?

Use 'buen niño' for younger children (roughly under 12) and 'buen chico' for older kids and teenagers, as 'chico' implies a slightly older age range than 'niño.'

Can you say bueno instead of buen?

When placed directly before a masculine singular noun, 'bueno' must shorten to 'buen' — but after the noun or as a standalone exclamation, the full form 'bueno' is correct.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Good Boy in Spanish

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Buen chico · noun · bwehn CHEE-koh

The Spanish phrase for good boy is 'buen chico' when referring to a young person and 'buen perro' when praising a dog. For a young child, 'buen niño' is also appropriate. The adjective 'bueno' shortens to 'buen' before a masculine noun.

Pronounce 'buen chico' as bwehn CHEE-koh, with a quick diphthong on 'buen' and the stress on the first syllable of 'chico.'

Eres un buen chico, estoy orgullosa de ti.

You're a good boy, I'm proud of you.

good boy in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for good boy, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
buen chico	good boy	bwehn CHEE-koh	Default, widely understood
buen niño	good boy		for a child
buen perro	good boy		for a dog

How Native Speakers Use Buen chico

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Praising a child

¡Qué buen niño! Recogiste todos tus juguetes.

What a good boy! You picked up all your toys.

A parent praising a child's behavior.

Praising a pet

¡Buen perro! Te ganaste una galleta.

Good boy! You earned a treat.

Rewarding a well-behaved dog.

Describing character

Juan siempre ha sido un buen chico con todos.

Juan has always been a good boy to everyone.

Describing someone's character.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Buen chico

Not shortening bueno

Incorrect: Eres un bueno chico.

Correct: Eres un buen chico.

Before a masculine singular noun, 'bueno' shortens to 'buen.' Saying 'bueno chico' is grammatically incorrect.

Using chico for pets

Incorrect: ¡Buen chico! (to a dog)

Correct: ¡Buen perro!

While understood, Spanish speakers typically say 'buen perro' (good dog) to pets rather than 'buen chico,' which is reserved for humans.

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Common Questions About good boy in Spanish

How do you say good girl in Spanish?: The feminine equivalent is 'buena chica' or 'buena niña' for a person, and 'buena perra' for a female dog — note that 'buena' does not shorten before feminine nouns.
When do you use buen niño versus buen chico?: Use 'buen niño' for younger children (roughly under 12) and 'buen chico' for older kids and teenagers, as 'chico' implies a slightly older age range than 'niño.'
Can you say bueno instead of buen?: When placed directly before a masculine singular noun, 'bueno' must shorten to 'buen' — but after the noun or as a standalone exclamation, the full form 'bueno' is correct.