What is the difference between Hermoso and guapo?

Question

As in giving a male a compliment? Goodnight guapo or goodnight Hermoso? I looked up the words and they both seem to have the same meaning if not mistaken.,

Good question, Nycgrrl, and welcome to SD! - Findy, Dec 26, 2014

Bienvenido a la fora amiga, buena suerte . Thank you for filling out your profile , that is worth a vote. - ray76, Dec 26, 2014

Answer 1

Hermoso is a word that can mean "beautiful" "handsome" "lovely" etc. I have never heard of a man being called "hermoso" , but it is common to use "hermosa" for women.

You can call the sunset, or "paisaje" or scenery "hermoso" That's OK,

Guapo or guapa is a term used for both men and women--and quite commonly.

It has more of the meaning of "good-looking".

Now I would like to ask you to do me and the other members of our community a favor by filling out your profile. It helps to know something about you and what level of Spanish that you have attained. You can look at my profile if you need to know how to do it. A short bio is also helpful--Spanish or English. Thanks.

You get to a person's profile by clicking on the name. Just click on "Daniela" and you will get to my profile. - Daniela2041, Dec 26, 2014

Thank you, Daniela! - Findy, Dec 26, 2014

Oh thank you from the bottom of my heart , what a charmer! - ray76, Dec 26, 2014

Unlike in Italian you can refer to a man as "bello " .Ciao bell'uomo*.- Hello handsome. - ray76, Dec 26, 2014

@Ray - you and I have been doing it all wrong - threatening people who have no profile info is obviously the wrong of doing it. Thanks Dani. xx - ian-hill, Dec 26, 2014

But Ian , i do so love the whipping part , can I still do that please ? - ray76, Dec 26, 2014

Ask Daniela :))) - ian-hill, Dec 26, 2014

Daniela was dead against the whip , she is a very modern soft and thoughtful girl , but does not understand the 'dark side' - ray76, Dec 26, 2014

I will ask rac1, she is a southern girl and more forceful , she may give me free reign . - ray76, Dec 26, 2014

As we have both said the ladies rule the world amigo so we go with the majority vote - even if it is 50 / 50. :) - ian-hill, Dec 26, 2014

Guaooooo .. que buena respuesta .. :) - Joydeep_Singh, Dec 26, 2014

I just use my Jedi powers to get people to do what I want them to do. :) - Daniela2041, Dec 26, 2014

Answer 2

According to my wife:

Hermoso/a is more the presentation like clothing, grooming, (make up), etc.

Guapo/a is more physical like the facial features, muscle tone, etc.

This might explain why hermoso is less common with men. Most men don't spend hours getting ready to go out; however, most women do and so hermosa is a desired and appreciated complement.

Thanks! Makes perfect sense. My Spanish is very rusty trying to learn. Lol - Nycgrrl, Dec 26, 2014