How To Say ‘Proud Of You’ In Spanish

A common Spanish way to praise someone is “Estoy orgulloso de ti” or “Estoy orgullosa de ti,” chosen by the speaker.

If you want to tell someone you’re proud of them in Spanish, you’ve got a few solid options. The “right” one depends on who you’re talking to, how close you are, and whether the moment calls for a calm line or a bigger burst of praise. This guide gives you the phrases, the small grammar choices that matter, and ready-to-use lines you can say out loud or send as a text.

What “Proud” Means In Spanish

Spanish uses orgulloso (masculine) and orgullosa (feminine) as adjectives. When you say “I’m proud,” you match orgulloso or orgullosa to yourself, not to the person you’re praising.

That’s the detail that trips learners. If you’re a man speaking, you’ll usually say orgulloso. If you’re a woman speaking, you’ll usually say orgullosa. The “of you” part changes based on formality and region.

How To Say ‘Proud Of You’ In Spanish In Daily Speech

These are the lines Spanish speakers use all the time. If you want a safe pick that fits most settings, start with the first one and add a short reason after it.

Estoy orgulloso de ti / Estoy orgullosa de ti

This is the standard phrase. It works for school, work, sports, and personal wins.

Male speaker: Estoy orgulloso de ti.
Female speaker: Estoy orgullosa de ti.

Me siento orgulloso / Me siento orgullosa de ti

This sounds a bit more personal, like you’re sharing what you feel inside. It fits long effort, tough weeks, and slow progress that deserves respect.

Qué orgulloso / Qué orgullosa estoy de ti

This has more sparkle. Use it right after the moment: the test score, the stage performance, the finish line, the hard conversation that went well.

Orgulloso / Orgullosa de ti

This is short and punchy. It’s great in a text, a caption, or a quick reply when you don’t want a full sentence.

Estoy orgulloso de usted / Estoy orgullosa de usted

Swap de ti for de usted when you’re speaking formally: a student to a professor, a message to a client, or praise to someone you treat with extra respect.

Choose The Right “You” Form

Spanish “you” changes with formality and region. Most learners start with tú (informal) and usted (formal). In many places, people also use vos as an informal “you.”

De ti

Use de ti with friends, close family, classmates, or kids.

De usted

Use de usted in formal situations, or with someone you don’t address casually.

De vos

In places where vos is common, you may hear: Estoy orgulloso de vos / Estoy orgullosa de vos. It sounds natural there.

De ustedes

For a group, say: Estoy orgulloso de ustedes / Estoy orgullosa de ustedes. It works across regions.

Pronunciation Tips That Keep You Smooth

You don’t need a perfect accent to be understood. Still, a few habits can make the line flow better.

Estoy often sounds like “es-TOY,” with the stress at the end.
Orgulloso/a often has a “y” sound in the middle: “or-gu-YO-so.”
De ti is light and quick: “de-TEE.”
Usted is often said fast in casual speech, yet it’s clear in careful speech.

Use It In Real Situations

English “proud of you” can mean praise, relief, admiration, or even “I saw your effort.” Spanish can carry those shades too. Pair the phrase with one short reason and it feels more personal right away.

School And Study Wins

Good picks after an exam, a thesis, a presentation, or steady study habits:

Estoy orgulloso/a de ti.
Me siento orgulloso/a de ti.
Qué orgulloso/a estoy de ti.

Work Milestones

If you want praise that stays respectful:

Estoy orgulloso/a de usted.
Me siento orgulloso/a de su trabajo.
Estoy orgulloso/a de lo que lograste.

Sports And Performance

After a match, a show, or a hard practice session:

Orgulloso/a de ti.
Qué orgullo verte así.
Estoy orgulloso/a de tu esfuerzo.

Parent To Child

These lines feel warm and direct:

Estoy orgulloso/a de ti, hijo/hija.
Me siento orgulloso/a de ti.
Qué orgulloso/a estoy de ti.

Copy-Ready Lines That Don’t Sound Like A Script

These show a simple pattern: praise, then a short reason. The reason is what makes the message feel real.

Text Messages

Estoy orgulloso/a de ti. Te lo ganaste.
Orgulloso/a de ti. No paraste hasta lograrlo.
Qué orgulloso/a estoy de ti. Te salió genial.

In Person

Estoy orgulloso/a de ti por cómo manejaste eso.
Me siento orgulloso/a de ti. Seguiste cuando se puso duro.
Qué orgulloso/a estoy de ti. Se notó tu trabajo.

More Formal Notes

Estoy orgulloso/a de usted y de su constancia.
Me siento orgulloso/a de su progreso.
Qué orgullo ver sus resultados.

When “Proud” Feels Too Parental

Sometimes “I’m proud of you” can sound like a parent talking to a kid, even when you don’t mean it that way. If you want praise that feels more equal, use one of these lines instead. They still sound warm.

Te felicito. Congratulations.
Me alegro por ti. I’m happy for you.
Qué bien lo hiciste. You did that well.
Qué gusto verte lograrlo. I loved seeing you pull it off.

Table Of Phrases By Setting And Tone

Use this table to match a phrase to the moment. Pick one line, then add a short reason.

Spanish phrase	Best use	Tone
Estoy orgulloso/a de ti.	All-purpose praise for someone close	Warm, clear
Me siento orgulloso/a de ti.	Long effort, personal growth, tough weeks	Soft, sincere
Qué orgulloso/a estoy de ti.	Right after a big win	Upbeat, emotional
Orgulloso/a de ti.	Text, short reply, quick praise	Casual, direct
Estoy orgulloso/a de usted.	Formal praise to one person	Polite, steady
Estoy orgulloso/a de ustedes.	Praising a team or group	Warm, group-friendly
Estoy orgulloso/a de tu esfuerzo.	When effort matters more than outcome	Encouraging
Te felicito.	Congrats without “proud”	Neutral, kind
Me alegro por ti.	Sharing joy for them	Warm, relaxed

Gender Notes Without Making It Awkward

Spanish adjectives often mark gender. Many people use orgulloso or orgullosa based on how they speak about themselves. In some circles, you may see orgullose in writing as a gender-neutral form. It’s not common in many daily settings.

If you’re not sure what someone prefers, you can avoid the adjective and still praise them with a warm line:

Qué orgullo lo que hiciste.
Me alegro mucho por ti.
Te felicito por tu logro.

Replies When Someone Says It To You

Accepting praise in a second language can feel odd. These replies keep the moment smooth.

Gracias. Simple and always fine.
Gracias, me hace feliz oír eso. Warm and personal.
Gracias por creer en mí. Great when the person backed you.
Me costó, pero valió la pena. Good when it took work.
Lo logré gracias a tu ayuda. Nice when you want to share credit.

Small Mistakes That Change The Line

Fix these once and you’ll sound more natural right away.

Matching The Adjective To The Listener

You match orgulloso/a to yourself. If you’re a man: “Estoy orgulloso de ti.” If you’re a woman: “Estoy orgullosa de ti.”

Saying “De tú”

“De tú” is not used here. The correct form is de ti.

Repeating The Same Line Too Many Times

If you drop orgulloso/a over and over in the same chat, it can start to feel heavy. Mix in a line about effort, progress, or what you noticed.

Table To Build Your Own Sentence

Use this to build a full line that fits the moment without sounding copied.

Starter	Add a reason	Optional closer
Estoy orgulloso/a de ti	por tu constancia	Te lo ganaste
Me siento orgulloso/a de ti	por cómo seguiste	Valió la pena
Qué orgulloso/a estoy de ti	por el trabajo que hiciste	Se notó
Estoy orgulloso/a de usted	por su progreso	Mis felicitaciones
Estoy orgulloso/a de ustedes	por el esfuerzo del equipo	Gran trabajo
Qué orgullo	ver tus resultados	Me alegra mucho
Orgulloso/a de ti	por no rendirte	De verdad

Five-Minute Practice Routine

If you want the phrase to come out clean, do this quick drill.

Say one full line out loud three times: “Estoy orgulloso/a de ti.”
Swap the “you” form: “de usted,” then “de ustedes.”
Add one reason: “por tu constancia,” “por tu esfuerzo,” “por tu trabajo.”
Say the short version once: “Orgulloso/a de ti.”
Pick a reply and say it once: “Gracias, me hace feliz oír eso.”

The most common line is “Estoy orgulloso/a de ti.” Match the adjective to yourself, then add a short reason that fits what they did.