lo bueno
Lemma Details
Translation: the good thing; the good part; what's good
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: This phrase combines the neuter article 'lo' with the adjective 'bueno' (good). The neuter article 'lo' in Spanish is used to abstract qualities or concepts, turning adjectives into nouns. 'Bueno' derives from Latin 'bonus' (good), which is related to English words like 'bonus', 'bonify', and 'bonanza'. The construction 'lo + adjective' is a distinctive Spanish grammatical pattern that abstracts qualities.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Mnemonics
- Think of 'lo bueno' as 'the good stuff' - the 'lo' abstracts the quality of goodness.
- Remember that 'lo' + adjective creates a concept, like 'lo bueno' = 'the good thing/aspect'
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This construction is frequently used in Spanish to discuss the positive aspects of situations or to highlight advantages. It's often used in comparative contexts, weighing positive against negative aspects ('lo bueno y lo malo').
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Lo bueno' refers to an abstract quality or concept (the good thing/aspect), while 'el bueno' refers to a masculine person or thing that is good (the good one/man).
Confused word:
Él es el bueno del grupo.
He is the good one in the group.
Notes: The neuter article 'lo' is used with adjectives to create abstract concepts, while the masculine article 'el' identifies specific entities.
Mnemonic: 'Lo' abstracts qualities (lo bueno = goodness itself), while 'el' identifies specific people/things (el bueno = the good person).
Explanation: 'Lo bueno' is a noun phrase meaning 'the good thing/aspect', while 'bien' is an adverb meaning 'well' or a noun meaning 'good' in a moral or philosophical sense.
Confused word:
Ella canta muy bien.
She sings very well.
Notes: 'Bien' as a noun (el bien) refers to moral good, while 'lo bueno' refers to positive aspects of situations.
Mnemonic: Think of 'lo bueno' as a specific good aspect, while 'bien' describes how something is done.