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suave

SWAH-veh/ˈswa.βe/

soft, smooth

Also: gentle
A hand gently touching a large, fluffy, white cotton ball, emphasizing softness.

📝 In Action

La piel del bebé es increíblemente suave.

A1

The baby's skin is incredibly soft.

Me encanta esta manta, es tan suave.

A1

I love this blanket; it is so soft.

El carpintero pulió la madera hasta dejarla suave.

A2

The carpenter polished the wood until it was smooth.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • blando (soft (often for objects that yield pressure))
  • liso (smooth (lacking texture))

Antonyms

  • áspero (rough)
  • duro (hard)

Common Collocations

  • tacto suave – soft touch
  • textura suave – smooth texture

mild, gentle

Also: light, subtle
A transparent teacup filled with light amber liquid, with a gentle wisp of steam rising, suggesting a mild flavor.

📝 In Action

Prefiero el café con un sabor más suave.

A2

I prefer coffee with a milder flavor.

Había una brisa suave que nos refrescaba.

A2

There was a gentle breeze refreshing us.

Él es muy suave en su trato con los clientes.

B1

He is very gentle in how he deals with customers.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • fuerte (strong, intense)
  • áspero (harsh)

Common Collocations

  • luz suave – soft/gentle light
  • sabor suave – mild flavor

cool, charming

Also: smooth, suave
Adjectivem/fB2informal
Mexico
A stylish anthropomorphic fox wearing simple, dark sunglasses and a red jacket, standing confidently.

📝 In Action

Ese carro nuevo está súper suave.

B2

That new car is super cool/slick.

Con esa chaqueta y gafas de sol, te ves muy suave.

C1

With that jacket and sunglasses, you look very smooth/stylish.

Su forma de bailar es tan suave, parece que no le cuesta nada.

B2

His way of dancing is so smooth, it looks like it takes no effort.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • chévere (cool, great (Latin America))
  • elegante (elegant)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ser suave – to be cool/smooth (personality)

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: suave

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'suave' to describe a personality trait?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
suavidad(softness, smoothness (noun)) — Noun
suavemente(softly, gently (adverb)) — Adverb
suavizar(to soften, to smooth (verb)) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the Latin word *suāvis*, which meant 'sweet,' 'pleasant,' or 'agreeable.' It has maintained its core meaning of something gentle and pleasing to the senses.

First recorded: Early Romance languages (around 10th-12th century)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: soaveFrench: suave

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'suave' masculine or feminine?

'Suave' is an adjective that ends in 'e,' so it is used for both masculine and feminine nouns. You say 'el té suave' (the mild tea) and 'la luz suave' (the soft light).

What is the difference between 'suave' and 'suavemente'?

'Suave' is an adjective, meaning it describes a noun (e.g., 'el viento suave' - the gentle wind). 'Suavemente' is the adverb form (ending in -mente), meaning it describes how an action is done (e.g., 'Toca suavemente' - He touches gently/softly).