Bueno vs Bien – Good vs Well
In Spanish, bueno and bien serve different functions: bueno is an adjective that describes nouns, while bien is an adverb that modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Choosing one or the other changes the meaning, so it pays to notice whether you need an adjective or an adverb in context.
Bueno
Bueno agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies, so you can have buena, buenos, or buenas depending on the noun. Use bueno to describe something as good in quality, usefulness, or moral value.
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Bien
Bien is an adverb and does not change form; use it to describe how an action is performed or to modify an adjective or another adverb. You can use bien after verbs to indicate that something was done well.
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Expressions with Bueno
Some expressions use bueno in fixed ways, and sometimes bueno functions loosely as a comment or filler word. When in doubt, pay attention to whether it precedes a noun or stands alone.
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Expressions with Bien
Bien appears in set phrases and can reinforce approval or correctness. It also pairs naturally with verbs and adjectives to signal manner, degree, or quality.
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Summary
Remember: use bueno (and its agreeing forms) to modify nouns, and use bien to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Switching one for the other changes the sentence from commenting on quality to describing manner.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025