sutil
/soo-TEEL/
subtle
A delicate wisp of smoke represents something sutil, or hard to notice.
sutil(adjective)
subtle
?hard to notice or see
nuanced
?having small, important details
,elusive
?difficult to define
📝 In Action
Hay una diferencia muy sutil entre estos dos colores.
B2There is a very subtle difference between these two colors.
Ella hizo un cambio sutil en su peinado.
B2She made a subtle change to her hairstyle.
El humor de esa película es muy sutil.
C1The humor in 그 movie is very subtle.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Neutrality
This word doesn't change its ending for masculine or feminine nouns. You can say 'un cambio sutil' (masculine) or 'una fragancia sutil' (feminine).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Making it 'sutila'
Mistake: "una diferencia sutila"
Correction: una diferencia sutil. Adjectives ending in -il stay the same for both boys and girls.
⭐ Usage Tips
When to use it
Use 'sutil' when you want to describe something that isn't hitting you over the head—it's elegant and requires a little attention to notice.
A clever fox illustrates the sutil, or keen and sharp-witted, meaning of the word.
📝 In Action
Es un observador sutil de la realidad política.
C1He is a keen observer of political reality.
Su análisis sutil reveló problemas que nadie más vio.
C1His sharp analysis revealed problems that no one else saw.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural Form
To talk about more than one thing, add -es to the end: 'sutiles'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Praising Intelligence
Calling someone a 'pensador sutil' is a high compliment for their intelligence and attention to detail.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sutil
Question 1 of 2
Which of these would most likely be described as 'sutil'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'sutil' different for men and women?
No! It's one of those helpful Spanish adjectives that stays the same regardless of gender. 'Un hombre sutil' and 'una mujer sutil' are both correct.
Does 'sutil' always mean 'hard to see'?
Usually, yes, but it can also mean 'intellectually sharp.' If someone has a 'mente sutil,' it means they are very clever at picking up on small details.