We present a variety of examples to demonstrate the nuances that translators must address to ensure the original meaning is not altered by the adjective-noun order.

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Translation Solutions: Adjective Inversion
Adjective inversion (reversing the noun-adjective order) may
be used in Spanish as a figure of speech to emphasize a
particular quality for aesthetic purposes. However, many
adjectives in Spanish change meaning depending on whether
they precede or follow the noun, as expert translators well
know. For example, un buen amigo is “a good friend,” but
un amigo bueno means “a kind friend.”
The following examples demonstrate the nuances that
translators must address to ensure that the noun-adjective
order conveys the original meaning without distortion.

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alguna/alguno indefinite 'some' emphatic negative
¿Asistió alguna persona? No asistió persona alguna.
Did anyone attend? Absolutely no one attended.
alta/alto high in a scale, high level high, tall
una alta funcionaria un funcionario alto
a high-ranking (female) official a tall (male) official
antigua/antiguo former, ancient old, elderly; senior
mi antigua maestra una maestra antigua del colegio
my former teacher a senior teacher in the school
auténtica/auténtico 'real' as a superlative 'real' in the sense of genuine,
not fake
¡Es una auténtica maravilla! Es un documento auténtico.
It's a real wonder! This document is real/genuine.
Adjective Meaning when
preceding the noun
Meaning when
following the noun

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baja/bajo low, poor, late low, short
bajo en azúcar en voz baja
low sugar content in a low voice
bendita/bendito 'blessed' for emphasis holy, blessed
¡Otra vez con esa bendita excusa! agua bendita
The same blessed excuse again! holy man
buen/buena/bueno good, fine, fair kind, good, nice
tener buen ojo un ojo bueno
have a good eye/be a good judge a healthy eye, the good eye
cierta/cierto certain, one occasion, once true, sure, definite
en cierta ocasión un rumor cierto
on one occasion a true rumor
Adjective Meaning when
preceding the noun
Meaning when
following the noun

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clásica/clásico classic, typical classical
la clásica historia la música clásica
the typical story classical music
condenada/condenado 'wretched' for emphasis condemned, convicted,
damned; sealed off
¡Esta condenada computadora no
funciona!
el preso condenado
This wretched computer isn’t working! a sentenced prisoner
correspondiente understandable as in logical or
expected
corresponding/matching,
respective, relevant
Llegaron tarde con el
correspondiente descalabro
del horario.
los archivos correspondientes
They started late, causing an
understandable disruption
in the schedule.
the relevant files
Adjective Meaning when
preceding the noun
Meaning when
following the noun

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cruda/crudo harsh, harshly realistic raw, undercooked
la cruda verdad el pescado crudo
the harsh truth raw fish
cualquier/cualquiera any, any whatsoever any ordinary, any old
Puedes ponerte cualquier abrigo. Ponte un abrigo cualquiera.
You can wear any coat whatsoever. Just wear any coat.
curiosa/curioso odd, strange curious, inquisitive, tidy,
careful
un curioso personaje una persona curiosa
a strange character a curious/tidy person
(depending on context)
dichosa / dichoso blasted, blessed (euphemistic) lucky, fortunate; happy
¡Ese dichoso ruido otra vez! ¡Ese es un niño dichoso!
That blasted noise again! That’s a lucky boy!
Adjective Meaning when
preceding the noun
Meaning when
following the noun

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diferente various, several different
diferentes ideas una idea diferente
several ideas a different idea
ese/esa demonstrative form demonstrative used in a
derogatory sense
Ese hombre nos sigue. El hombre ese…
That man is following us. That confounded man…
eterna/eterno everlasting, tedious/incessant,
eternal
Never-ending, interminable,
forever
la eterna canción una película eterna
same old song a never-ending movie
extraña/extraño odd, strange stranger; extraneous
Ella era una extraña persona. Él era una persona extraña
en ese pueblo.
She was an odd person. He was a foreigner
in that town.
Adjective Meaning when
preceding the noun
Meaning when
following the noun

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fantástica/fantástico fantastic (great), superb imaginary, unreal, fantasy
fantástica literatura literatura fantástica
fantastic writing/literature fantasy literature
gran/grande great, big deal, splendid big, large, tall
¡Gran cosa! [irónico] un evento grande
Big deal! [ironic] a big event
ligera/ligero slight, mild, light light, lightweight, light-hearted,
frivolous
una ligera tos una comedia ligera
a mild cough a light-hearted comedy
mala/malo bad, ill naughty, wicked, evil, bad
quality
de mal agüero una novela mala
a bad omen a poorly written novel
Adjective Meaning when
preceding the noun
Meaning when
following the noun

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media/medio half average, middle
Dame media libra. el estadounidense medio
Give me half a pound. the average American
menuda/menudo used for added emphasis small, trifling, insignificant
¡Menudo problema! un trozo menudo de madera
What a fine mess! a small piece of wood
misma/mismo same, very same self
La misma persona llamó. El niño mismo llamó.
The (very) same person called. The child himself called.
nueva/nuevo new (as a replacement), latest,
another
new, brand-new
una nueva política una política nueva
a new policy (that replaces or
updates the former one)
a brand-new policy
(to address something)
Adjective Meaning when
preceding the noun
Meaning when
following the noun

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pobre pitiable, pitiful, miserable,
unfortunate; 'poor' for emphasis
poor, not rich
¡Pobre país! Es un país pobre.
Poor country! It is a poor country.
posible tentative, potential possible, feasible, all
las posibles soluciones todas las soluciones posibles
potential solutions all possible solutions
preciosa/precioso lovely, beautiful precious
una preciosa playa una piedra preciosa
a beautiful beach a precious stone
presente present, now in consideration or
discussion
in the present, current
el presente problema el tiempo presente
the present problem the current times
Adjective Meaning when
preceding the noun
Meaning when
following the noun

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propia/propio himself, herself, own own, characteristic, just,
appropriate, befitting, worthy
actuar en su propio nombre nombre propio
acting in his/her name, or
his/her own behalf
proper noun
próxima/próximo next in a series near, close
el próximo mes la casa próxima a la escuela
next month the house near the school
pura/puro unmixed; just; sheer clean, pure, unalloyed
puro alcohol alcohol puro
just alcohol 100% alcohol
rara/raro unusual, rare, few strange, odd, eccentric; rare
un raro comportamiento un comportamiento raro
unusual behavior strange behavior
Adjective Meaning when
preceding the noun
Meaning when
following the noun

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rica/rico delicious, fertile, fruitful, luxurious, rich, abundant
una rica receta una receta rica en nutrientes
a delicious recipe a nutrient-rich recipe
siguiente following next
Observa el siguiente rectángulo. ¿Cuál es el elemento siguiente
en la serie?
Look at the following rectangle. What is the next element
in the series?
simple mere, ordinary easy, simple-minded, plain,
unadorned
una simple pregunta una pregunta simple
just a question an easy question
sola/solo single; very, mere, just alone, lonely, on its own;
straight
un solo café un café solo
just one coffee a black coffee (without milk)
Adjective Meaning when
preceding the noun
Meaning when
following the noun

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triste miserable, 'insignificant' for
emphasis; sorry, pathetic, pitiful,
deplorable
sad, melancholic; depressing,
sorrowful; withered; gloomy
un triste consuelo una noticia triste
small comfort sad news
única/único only, single unique, exceptional, only
un único ejemplar un ejemplar único
the only copy a unique copy
valiente 'great’ or ‘fine’ used ironically brave, courageous
¡En valiente lío te has metido! una valiente mujer
You've got yourself into a fine mess! a courageous woman
varias/varios several assorted, miscellaneous
Hay varias teorías. Hay teorías varias.
There are several theories. There are assorted theories.
Adjective Meaning when
preceding the noun
Meaning when
following the noun

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verdadero/verdadera 'real' for emphasis real, true, genuine
Fue un verdadero placer
hablar contigo.
Es un manuscrito verdadero.
It was a real pleasure talking to you. It is a genuine manuscript.
vieja/viejo long-standing, former; old elderly, 'old' as in elderly
un viejo maestro un maestro viejo
an old teacher an elderly teacher
Adjective Meaning when
preceding the noun
Meaning when
following the noun