Inklingo

How to Say "flourish" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “flourish” is “adorno” — use 'adorno' when referring to a decorative musical passage or an embellishment in speech or writing..

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adorno

/ah-DOR-noh//aˈðoɾno/

nounB2general
Use 'adorno' when referring to a decorative musical passage or an embellishment in speech or writing.
An elegant quill pen with a decorative golden feather resting on a piece of parchment.

Examples

El pianista añadió un adorno a la melodía final.

The pianist added a flourish to the final melody.

Su discurso fue directo y sin adornos innecesarios.

His speech was direct and without unnecessary flourishes.

La caligrafía tiene muchos adornos elegantes.

The calligraphy has many elegant flourishes.

Abstract usage

In this context, 'adorno' refers to adding extra style to something rather than a physical object you can hold.

rasgo

/RAHS-go//ˈrasɡo/

nounC1general
Use 'rasgo' when describing a decorative or elegant stroke, especially in handwriting or a signature.
A thick, elegant swoosh of blue paint made by a single brush movement.

Examples

La firma tiene rasgos muy elegantes.

The signature has very elegant strokes.

Con unos pocos rasgos, el artista dibujó su cara.

With just a few strokes, the artist drew his face.

Abstract vs. Concrete

While the first meaning is about abstract qualities, this meaning is about physical lines on a page.

Adorno vs. Rasgo

Learners often confuse 'adorno' and 'rasgo' because both can refer to decorative elements. Remember that 'adorno' is typically used for musical or spoken embellishments, while 'rasgo' specifically refers to a stroke or line, particularly in writing.

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