“Good job!” / “Well done!” / “You’re amazing!”

Words You Know — Meanings You Don’t

Three phrases. Five cultures. One big misunderstanding.

At Levitin Language School, we teach languages not just through vocabulary — but through logic, emotion, and identity. And praise is one of the most culturally loaded elements in language.

What’s the Big Deal?

Many students ask:

• How do I say “Good job!” in Russian?
• Is “You’re amazing” appropriate in German?
• Why do Americans say “Well done” for everything?

The answers depend on who you are, where you live, и what you mean.

Because compliments are never just compliments.
They’re signals of culture, emotion, status — and even distance.

English: Easy, Encouraging, Often Empty

In English, praise is frequent, light, and often used as social glue.

You’ll hear:

• “Good job!”
• “Well done!”
• “You’re amazing!”
• “That’s awesome!”
• “Nice work!”

These don’t always mean deep admiration. Sometimes, they’re just a rhythm of encouragement — a way to be polite, friendly, or motivating.

Even children hear praise constantly:

“Good job!” — for finishing breakfast.
“You’re awesome!” — for picking up a toy.

In adult settings:

“Well done on the presentation!”
“Great insight!”
“You’re amazing — I couldn’t have done it without you.”

But none of these necessarily reflect deep emotion.
They can be:

• genuine
• polite
• performative
• sarcastic

That’s the beauty — and the danger — of English praise:
It’s flexible. But often, it’s superficial.

Russian: Emotion First, Then Praise

In Russian, praise carries emotional weight and must match the moment. Saying “Ты потрясающий” (You’re amazing) without real connection may sound fake — or sarcastic.

Common phrases include:

• Молодец — task-oriented, positive, but often used with children
• Хорошая работа — neutral, literal
• Ты меня удивил / удивила - You surprised me — implies respect
• Браво — literary, theatrical
• Это достойно уважения — serious, deep compliment
• Ты крут / ты крутая — slang, casual, often gendered
• Ты потрясающий / потрясающая — used rarely, only with strong emotional intent

Russians value подлинность. Praise is often connected to effort, difficulty, or emotional impact — not just outcome.
Overuse can signal insincerity.

Ukrainian: Sincerity, Not Flattery

In Ukrainian, praise is expected to be purposeful, sincere, and culturally appropriate.

Common expressions:

• Молодець — widely used, encouraging, often for children
• Добре впорався / впоралася — job well done, task-focused
• Це вражає - That’s impressive — respectful, not exaggerated
• Ти мене здивував / здивувала — exceeding expectations
• Це гідно поваги — used in formal or emotional settings
• Ти неймовірний / неймовірна — strong praise, must be justified
• Вау, як круто — modern, expressive, informal

Ukrainian speakers may avoid praise that feels empty или generic.
They expect the compliment to match the effort, tone, and relationship.
Saying “Ти неймовірна” after a small task can sound theatrical or artificial.

German: Precise, Sparse, Professional

Germans are not known for casual praise. Compliments must be earned, specific, and often delayed.

Phrases include:

• Gut gemacht — standard, often for children
• Sehr gute Arbeit — professional
• Ich bin beeindruckt - I’m impressed — sincere
• Das war stark — colloquial, positive
• Respekt! — powerful, but brief
• Du bist großartig / fantastisch — only in emotional or theatrical contexts
• Chapeau! — borrowed, literary or elite register

In German culture, too much praise can feel patronizing.
Understatement is a virtue.
Praise is more about acknowledgment than encouragement.

Spanish: Musical, Warm, Layered

Spanish-speaking cultures vary — but they often use praise to express warmth, эмоции, и connection.

Common expressions:

• ¡Muy bien! — widely used, all contexts
• ¡Excelente trabajo! — formal or professional
• ¡Eres increíble! - You’re incredible! — expressive, warm
• ¡Qué maravilla! / ¡Qué lindo! — admiration, delight
• ¡Olé! — approval, pride, cultural emphasis
• Me dejaste sin palabras - You left me speechless — poetic, emotional

Latin American Spanish in particular favors expressive praise — but delivery and tone are everything.
Saying “Lo hiciste bien” in a flat tone may sound dismissive.
Saying “¡Increíble!” with a warm smile communicates real admiration.

Translation Trap

Let’s take:

“Good job!”

You might think it’s a universal phrase.
But try saying it literally in another language, and you might get:

• Russian: “Хорошая работа” — sounds flat or sarcastic
• Ukrainian: “Добра робота” — odd without context
• German: “Gute Arbeit” — acceptable, but not warm
• Spanish: “Buen trabajo” — fine, but depends on tone and context

Words don’t carry the same emotional tone across borders.

That’s why “You’re amazing” may sound:

• patronizing in German
• theatrical in Ukrainian
• over-the-top in Russian
• perfectly fine in American English

What We Teach Instead

At Levitin Language School, we teach students to:

• Read the emotional context
• Choose compliments that fit the culture
• Use praise that matches the relationship
• Understand what words feel like — not just what they mean

Because compliments aren’t just words.
They’re cultural codes.

Coming Soon in This Series:

Amazing vs Amazable — why some compliments don’t cross borders.
(A future article in this series.)

🔗 Related Posts from Our Blog:

• Thank You, Thanks, Thanks a Lot
• I Love You Doesn’t Mean What You Think
• Real Language Is Never Literal
• Grammar Is How We Think

📘 Series:

Words You Know — Meanings You Don’t
Explore how familiar words carry unfamiliar meanings across languages and cultures.

👤 Author:

By Тимур Левитин
Founder, Director, and Senior Instructor at Levitin Language School
© Тимур Левитин. Все права защищены.