Inklingo

How to Say "soft" in Spanish

English → Spanish

suave

/SWAH-veh//ˈswa.βe/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'suave' when describing a soft texture, feel, or a gentle quality of touch, like smooth fabric or a gentle breeze.
A hand gently touching a large, fluffy, white cotton ball, emphasizing softness.

Examples

La bufanda es muy suave y cálida.

The scarf is very soft and warm.

La piel del bebé es increíblemente suave.

The baby's skin is incredibly soft.

Me encanta esta manta, es tan suave.

I love this blanket; it is so soft.

El carpintero pulió la madera hasta dejarla suave.

The carpenter polished the wood until it was smooth.

Adjective Agreement

Since 'suave' ends in 'e,' it is the same for masculine and feminine nouns (el tejido suave, la tela suave). Just add an 's' for plural: 'suaves'.

Confusing 'Suave' and 'Blando'

Mistake: “Usar 'blando' para describir la piel o el pelo.”

Correction: Use 'suave' for things that are pleasant to the touch, like skin, hair, or fabric. 'Blando' usually means something is squishy or easily compressed (like soft fruit).

tierno

tee-EHR-noh/ˈtjeɾno/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'tierno' to describe something as tender, especially food that is cooked to be easily cut or chewed, or young, delicate plants.
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.

Examples

Me gusta el pollo tierno y jugoso.

I like tender and juicy chicken.

El chef cocinó el bistec hasta que quedó muy tierno.

The chef cooked the steak until it was very tender.

Estas hojas de lechuga son muy tiernas; cómelas pronto.

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

Agreement is Key

Since 'tierno' is an adjective, you must change the ending to match the noun it describes: 'el pollo tierno' (masculine singular), 'la fruta tierna' (feminine singular), 'los tallos tiernos' (masculine plural).

dulce

/DOOL-seh//ˈdul.se/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'dulce' when 'soft' refers to a sound or voice that is gentle, mellow, or pleasant, rather than harsh or loud.
A single, perfectly ripe red strawberry covered lightly in sparkling white sugar crystals, emphasizing its sweet taste.

Examples

Su voz es suave y dulce, me relaja.

Her voice is soft and sweet, it relaxes me.

El café está demasiado dulce para mí.

The coffee is too sweet for me.

Mi abuela es una mujer muy dulce y amable.

My grandmother is a very sweet and kind woman.

Los peces de agua dulce viven en ríos y lagos.

Freshwater fish live in rivers and lakes.

Adjectives That Don't Change

Adjectives that end in '-e', like 'dulce', are super easy! They don't change for masculine or feminine things. It's 'el pastel dulce' (masculine) and 'la fresa dulce' (feminine).

Don't Add an '-a' for Feminine

Mistake: “La manzana es dulca.”

Correction: La manzana es dulce. Because 'dulce' ends in '-e', it stays the same for both masculine and feminine things.

Confusing 'suave' and 'dulce' for sounds

Learners often mix up 'suave' and 'dulce' when describing sounds. Remember that 'suave' is for gentle or smooth sounds, while 'dulce' specifically implies a pleasing, sweet quality to the sound, often a voice.

Related Translations

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