delgado

/del-GAH-doh/

thin

A very slender, long-legged cat standing elegantly on a green field.

Depicting a cat with a thin physique, illustrating the meaning of "delgado" (thin).

delgado(adjective)

mA1

thin

referring to a person or animal's physique

slim

referring to a person's physique, often positive

Also:

skinny

can sometimes imply being too thin (use 'flaco' for a stronger negative connotation)

📝 In Action

Mi hermano es muy alto y delgado.

My brother is very tall and thin.

Después de la enfermedad, el perro se veía muy delgado.

After the illness, the dog looked very thin.

Ella prefiere usar ropa que la haga ver más delgada.

She prefers to wear clothes that make her look slimmer.

Word Connections

Synonyms

flaco (thin, skinny (often implies frailty or extreme thinness))
esbelto (slender, svelte (always positive))

Antonyms

gordo (fat, heavy)
robusto (sturdy, stout)

Common Collocations

estar delgado – to be thin (a temporary state)
ser delgado – to be thin (a permanent characteristic)

💡 Grammar Points

Gender and Number Agreement

Since 'delgado' is a descriptive word (adjective), its ending must match the person or thing it describes: 'el chico delgado' (masculine singular), 'la chica delgada' (feminine singular), 'los chicos delgados' (masculine plural).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up Delgadez and Flacura

Mistake: "Using 'flaco' in a formal context when you mean 'slim' or 'slender'."

Correction: 'Delgado' is generally the safer and more neutral choice. 'Flaco' often implies being unhealthily or overly skinny.

⭐ Usage Tips

Choosing Ser vs. Estar

Use 'ser' (es) if someone is naturally thin. Use 'estar' (está) if they recently lost weight or look thinner than usual: 'Ella es delgada' (She is thin) vs. '¡Qué delgada estás!' (How thin you look!)

A single, extremely narrow red notebook lying flat on a wooden surface.

Showing an object with a thin width, like this narrow notebook, which is also described as "delgado" (thin).

delgado(adjective)

mB1

thin

referring to the width of an object (e.g., paper, walls)

fine

referring to threads, lines, or hair

Also:

light

referring to a weak or faint consistency, like a sauce or soup

📝 In Action

La pared es muy delgada y se escucha todo.

The wall is very thin and you can hear everything.

Necesito un hilo muy delgado para este bordado.

I need a very fine thread for this embroidery.

El café estaba demasiado delgado, casi agua.

The coffee was too weak/light, almost water.

Word Connections

Synonyms

fino (fine, delicate (especially for materials))
escaso (scarce, thin (referring to density or quantity))

Antonyms

grueso (thick, bulky (for objects))
denso (dense, thick (for liquids/materials))

Common Collocations

papel delgado – thin paper
línea delgada – fine line

💡 Grammar Points

Describing Consistency

You can use 'delgado' to describe liquids or foods that are watery or lack body, like a light sauce or weak coffee. It means the consistency is 'thin.'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: delgado

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'delgado' to describe an object, not a person?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

delgadez(thinness, slimness) - noun

adelgazar(to lose weight, to become thin) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'delgado' y 'flaco'?

Both mean 'thin,' but 'delgado' is generally neutral or slightly positive, meaning 'slim' or 'slender.' 'Flaco' often implies being excessively thin, bony, or even sickly, and can sometimes be seen as rude or negative.