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delgado

del-GAH-doh/delˈɣaðo/

thin, slim

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

📝 In Action

Mi hermano es muy alto y delgado.

A1

My brother is very tall and thin.

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

A2

After the illness, the dog looked very thin.

Ella prefiere usar ropa que la haga ver más delgada.

B1

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)

thin, fine

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

📝 In Action

La pared es muy delgada y se escucha todo.

B1

The wall is very thin and you can hear everything.

Necesito un hilo muy delgado para este bordado.

B2

I need a very fine thread for this embroidery.

El café estaba demasiado delgado, casi agua.

C1

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

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "delgado" in Spanish:

fine→light→skinny→slim→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
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the older Spanish word 'delicado,' which meant 'delicate' or 'tender.' Over time, the meaning shifted from 'delicate' to 'slender' and eventually settled on 'thin.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: delgadoItalian: delicato

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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.