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tierno

tee-EHR-noh/ˈtjeɾno/

“tierno” means “tender” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

tender, soft

Also: young, delicate
A close-up view of a fork easily slicing through a thick piece of roasted steak resting on a white plate, demonstrating the meat's tender texture.

📝 In Action

El chef cocinó el bistec hasta que quedó muy tierno.

A2

The chef cooked the steak until it was very tender.

Estas hojas de lechuga son muy tiernas; cómelas pronto.

B1

These lettuce leaves are very soft/delicate; eat them soon.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • carne tierna – tender meat
  • edad tierna – tender age (young age)

sweet, affectionate

Also: gentle, loving
A storybook illustration showing a small, smiling child gently embracing a large, fluffy teddy bear, symbolizing sweetness and affection.

📝 In Action

Mi abuela es muy tierna y siempre tiene un abrazo para mí.

A2

My grandmother is very sweet/affectionate and always has a hug for me.

Escribió una carta tierna a su esposa en su aniversario.

B1

He wrote a tender letter to his wife on their anniversary.

La película era muy tierna, casi me hizo llorar.

B2

The movie was very sweet/moving; it almost made me cry.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cariñoso (affectionate)
  • dulce (sweet)

Antonyms

  • cruel (cruel)
  • frío (cold, distant)

Common Collocations

  • gesto tierno – tender gesture
  • corazón tierno – tender heart (sensitive)

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: tierno

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'tierno' in its emotional meaning?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ternura(tenderness, sweetness) — Noun
tiernamente(tenderly, sweetly) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *tener*, which meant 'soft, delicate, or young'. This explains why the Spanish word applies to both physical softness (meat) and emotional delicacy (sweetness).

First recorded: Medieval Latin period

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: ternoItalian: tenero

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I say 'tenderly' (the adverb)?

You use the adverb 'tiernamente'. It's formed by adding '-mente' to the feminine form of the adjective: 'Me miró tiernamente' (He looked at me tenderly).

What is the feminine form of 'tierno'?

The feminine singular form is 'tierna' (e.g., 'una mirada tierna' - a sweet look). The plural forms are 'tiernos' (masculine) and 'tiernas' (feminine).