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A mother whispering gently to her sleeping baby with a finger to her lips.

suavemente

swah-veh-MEN-teh

adverbA2
softly?referring to sound or volume,gently?referring to physical touch or movement
Also:smoothly?referring to a transition or surface,mildly?referring to a reaction or flavor

📝 In Action

Ella cerró la puerta suavemente para no despertar al bebé.

A2

She closed the door softly so as not to wake the baby.

El viento soplaba suavemente entre los árboles.

B1

The wind was blowing gently through the trees.

Aplica la crema suavemente sobre la piel.

A2

Apply the cream gently on the skin.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • delicadamente (delicately)
  • despacio (slowly/gently)

Antonyms

  • fuertemente (strongly)
  • bruscamente (abruptly/roughly)

Common Collocations

  • tocar suavemente – to touch gently
  • hablar suavemente – to speak softly

Idioms & Expressions

  • Suavemente (as a command) – Do it gently or take it easy

💡 Grammar Points

The '-mente' Suffix

In Spanish, adding '-mente' to the end of a feminine adjective is just like adding '-ly' in English. It turns a description word into a word that explains how an action is done.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Adjective vs. Adverb

Mistake: "Using 'Ella habla suave.'"

Correction: Say 'Ella habla suavemente.' While people sometimes use the short version in slang, 'suavemente' is the correct way to describe the action of speaking.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context Matters

Use this word whenever you want to emphasize kindness, care, or a lack of force in an action.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: suavemente

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence best uses 'suavemente' to describe a sound?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

suave(soft/smooth) - adjective
suavidad(softness/smoothness) - noun
suavizar(to soften/to smooth over) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'suavemente' related to the English word 'suave'?

Yes! They both come from the same Latin root. While the English word usually means charming or sophisticated, the Spanish word focuses more on the physical sensation of being soft or smooth.

Can I use 'suavemente' to describe a person's character?

Not really. Use 'suave' to describe a person (as in smooth or gentle), but use 'suavemente' to describe how they act or move.