Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Well Done in Spanish: Bien Hecho
Bien Hecho · phrase · bee-EHN EH-choh
Well done in Spanish is bien hecho when praising someone's work or achievement, and bien cocido (or bien asado) when ordering meat cooked all the way through. These two meanings of 'well done' require completely different translations, and confusing them is a classic learner trap.
Say bee-EHN EH-choh for the praise meaning. The h in hecho is silent in Spanish.
¡Bien hecho! Aprobaste el examen con la mejor nota.
Well done! You passed the exam with the highest grade.
Well Done in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for well done, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| bien hecho | well done | bee-EHN EH-choh | Default, widely understood |
| bien cocido | well done | well done (meat) | |
| ¡bravo! | well done | exclamation of praise |
How Native Speakers Use Bien Hecho
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Praising someone
¡Bien hecho, equipo! Completamos el proyecto antes de la fecha límite.
Well done, team! We completed the project before the deadline.
Bien hecho is the all-purpose expression of congratulations and approval.
Ordering steak
Quiero mi bistec bien cocido, sin nada de rosado.
I want my steak well done, with no pink at all.
Bien cocido or bien asado specifies the doneness level for meat.
Describing quality work
El informe está bien hecho y no necesita correcciones.
The report is well done and doesn't need corrections.
Bien hecho as a descriptor means well-made, well-executed.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Bien Hecho
Using bien hecho for meat doneness
Incorrect: Quiero mi carne bien hecha.
Correct: Quiero mi carne bien cocida.
Bien hecho/hecha for meat would mean 'well-made,' as if someone built it. For cooking doneness, bien cocido (well-cooked) or bien asado (well-grilled) is the correct phrase.
Forgetting gender agreement
Incorrect: La tarea está bien hecho.
Correct: La tarea está bien hecha.
Hecho must agree with the noun it modifies. Since tarea is feminine, it becomes hecha. Bien stays the same regardless of gender.
Lock in Well Done Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Bien Hecho used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using bien hecho in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¡Bien hecho! Aprobaste el examen con la mejor nota. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Well Done in Spanish
- How do you say well done in Spanish?
- For praise and congratulations, say bien hecho. For meat doneness, use bien cocido (boiled/baked) or bien asado (grilled). The two meanings require entirely different Spanish phrases.
- How do you order steak doneness in Spanish?
- The common doneness levels are: poco hecho or crudo (rare), término medio (medium), and bien cocido or bien asado (well done). In Argentina, you might hear jugoso (juicy/rare) and a punto (medium) instead.
- Can I say felicidades instead of bien hecho?
- Felicidades means congratulations and works for milestone achievements like graduations, promotions, and births. Bien hecho is more specific — it acknowledges effort and good execution on a task. Both are positive, but they carry different nuances.