How to Say "dainty" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “dainty” is “delicado” — use 'delicado' when referring to the fine, intricate, or fragile nature of an object's appearance, like lace or craftsmanship..
delicado
deh-lee-KAH-doh/deliˈkaðo/
Examples
El bordado de la blusa era muy delicado.
The embroidery on the blouse was very delicate.
El vestido de novia tenía un encaje muy delicado.
The wedding dress had very delicate lace.
El chef creó una salsa de sabor delicado que complementó el pescado.
The chef created a subtle-flavored sauce that complemented the fish.
Describing Permanent Qualities
When describing a permanent or inherent quality (like the flavor of a dish or the design of a dress), use the verb 'ser': 'La tela es delicada' (The fabric is delicate).
Confusing Subtlety and Taste
Mistake: “Este vino es muy delicado, no me gusta.”
Correction: Este vino tiene un sabor muy delicado. (While 'delicado' can describe the flavor itself, use 'fino' or 'refinado' if you mean the quality of the wine is high class.)
mona
MOH-nah/ˈmo.na/
Examples
Tiene una cocina muy mona y bien organizada.
She has a very dainty and well-organized kitchen.
¡Qué casa tan mona! Me encanta la decoración.
What a cute house! I love the decoration.
Ella es una chica muy mona, siempre sonríe.
She is a very pretty girl, she always smiles.
Llevas una camiseta muy mona.
You are wearing a very cute t-shirt.
Use with Ser/Estar
When describing a permanent characteristic (like someone's general appearance), use 'ser': 'Ella es mona.' When describing a temporary state (like someone's outfit), you can use 'estar': '¡Qué mona estás hoy!'
Choosing between 'delicado' and 'mona'
Related Translations
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