no bueno
No bueno (adjective) means Bad, unacceptable or a poor idea; used lightly in English to mark something as not good. Example: “Texting your ex at 2am? No bueno.”
How to Use No bueno
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA playful way of saying something is bad.
Slang, chiefly American. Avoid in formal or professional writing.
It works as a whole-sentence verdict, usually after a comma or full stop, rather than before a noun.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Texting your ex at 2am? _____.
Etymology
From Spanish no bueno, literally 'not good'. The phrase is not idiomatic Spanish in this use; Spanish speakers would normally say no es bueno or no sirve.
Synonyms
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Related Words
Rhymes for no bueno
See all rhymes for no bueno →Frequently Asked Questions
Is no bueno correct Spanish?
Not really. In Spanish you would say no es bueno ('it is not good') or no sirve ('it's no use'). No bueno is a jokey English borrowing that drops the verb.
Is it offensive to say no bueno?
Most people treat it as harmless slang, but because it imitates broken Spanish, some Spanish speakers find it grating. It is safest among friends and out of place in formal writing.
What is the opposite of no bueno?
Muy bueno is the usual jokey opposite in the same register, though most English speakers just switch to 'all good'.