vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Gracias" is a form of "gracias", a phrase which is often translated as "thank you". "Bien" is an adverb which is often translated as "well". Learn more about the difference between "gracias" and "bien" below.
gracias(
grah
-
syahs
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
2. (gratitude)
a. thanks
Mis gracias más sinceras a mi jefe por su apoyo.My most sincere thanks go to my boss for his support.
b. thank you
Quiero hacerle un regalo para darle las gracias.I'd like to give him a present as a thank you.
Gracias por toda su ayuda.Thank you for all your help.
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Tengo que dar las gracias a Juan Franco Agudo por haberme dado esta oportunidad.I must thank Juan Franco Agudo for giving me this opportunity.
Doy gracias al cielo por tener un hijo tan simpático.I thank heaven that I have such a nice son.
la gracia
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
3. (humor)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Ese comentario no me hizo ninguna gracia.I didn't find that comment at all funny.
No te rías; no tiene gracia.Stop laughing; it isn't funny.
a. joke
Llevaba una lista de gracias para contar durante la cena.He had a list of jokes to tell over dinner.
a. grace
Me impresionaron la gracia y la elegancia de las bailarinas.I was impressed by the grace and elegance of the dancers.
c. gracefulness
La esquiadora se deslizaba sobre la nieve con la gracia de un cisne.The skier glided over the snow with the gracefulness of a swan.
d. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Se mueve con mucha gracia.She moves very gracefully.
Todos queremos envejecer con gracia.We all want to grow old gracefully.
6. (colloquial) (performance by child)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. routine
Juanito terminó con su gracia y todos aplaudieron.Juanito finished his routine, and everyone applauded.
b. party piece (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
El niño empezó con sus gracias y todos tuvimos que prestar atención.The child started on his party pieces, so we all had to pay attention.
7. (nuisance)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡Qué gracia tener que sacar al perro cuando está lloviendo!How annoying having to take the dog out when it's raining!
Me pidieron trabajar todo el fin de semana. ¡Vaya gracia!I've been asked to work all weekend. Great!
9. (ability)
10. (legal)
b. mercy
El monarca es quien ejerce la prerrogativa de gracia.The monarch is the person responsible for exercising the prerogative of mercy.
c. pardon
La Suprema Corte otorgó la libertad por gracia a Antonio Pérez Ortega.The Supreme Court granted Antonio Pérez Ortega a pardon, allowing him to be released.
11. (good turn)
a. favor (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Necesito pedirle una gracia.I need to ask you a favor.
b. favour (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
No me gusta pedir gracias a nadie.I don't like asking anyone for favours.
12. (period of time)
a. grace
Tengo una semana de gracia para acabar el trabajo.I've been given one week's grace to finish the job.
13. (religion)
14. (old-fashioned) (moniker)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
bien, el bien(
byehn
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
2. (properly)
a. well
Si la carne molida no se cocina bien, las bacterias no mueren.If the ground meat is not cooked well, the bacteria don't die.
3. (all right)
4. (extremely)
a. very
Me di un paseo bien largo para despejar mi mente.I went for a very long walk to clear my mind.
a. well
Cuando viajé a España, me comentaban que sabía hablar bien el español.When I traveled to Spain, people told me I could speak Spanish well.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Se hace el tonto pero bien sabía que no nos había pagado.He's pretending he didn't, but he knew full well he hadn't paid us.
Bien podías habérselo dicho.You really could have told him.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
8. (benefit)
a. good
Está dispuesto a sacrificar su vida por el bien de la nación.He is willing to sacrifice his own life for the good of the nation.
9. (possession)
A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, clauses, or sentences (e.g., The cat and the dog slept.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Bien nos vamos, bien no, pero hay que decidirlo ya.We either go or we don't, but we need to decide.
Tenemos que mudarnos, bien este año, bien el que viene.We have to move, whether it's this year or next.
