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How to Say "tender" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tierno

tee-EHR-noh/ˈtjeɾno/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'tierno' when describing food, especially meat, that is soft and easy to chew.
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

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).

delicado

deh-lee-KAH-doh/deliˈkaðo/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'delicado' to describe something fragile, easily damaged, or requiring careful handling, like fine china or delicate plants.
A clear glass swan figurine resting gently on a soft, red velvet cushion, emphasizing its fragility.

Examples

Esta porcelana es muy delicada, lávala a mano.

This porcelain is very delicate, wash it by hand.

Las flores tropicales son delicadas y necesitan mucho sol.

Tropical flowers are delicate and need a lot of sun.

Adjective Agreement

Like most Spanish adjectives, 'delicado' must change its ending to match the thing it describes. Use 'delicada' for feminine nouns (la flor), 'delicados' for masculine plural nouns (los jarrones), and 'delicadas' for feminine plural nouns (las copas).

Forgetting Agreement

Mistake: “El cristal es muy delicada.”

Correction: El cristal es muy delicado. ('Cristal' is masculine, so the adjective must end in -o.)

sensible

/sen-SEE-bleh//senˈsible/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'sensible' when referring to someone who is easily affected emotionally or shows a lot of empathy and gentleness.
A small, cartoonish character sitting with a single tear rolling down their cheek, holding a wilting flower, illustrating emotional sensitivity.

Examples

Mi hijo es muy sensible y llora con facilidad viendo películas tristes.

My son is very sensitive and cries easily watching sad movies.

Tiene la piel sensible, así que debe usar jabones especiales.

She has sensitive skin, so she must use special soaps.

Ella es una persona sensible que siempre se preocupa por los demás.

She is a caring person who always worries about others.

Adjective Form

Since 'sensible' ends in -e, it is the same for masculine and feminine nouns (e.g., 'el niño sensible' and 'la niña sensible'). You only change the ending to make it plural: 'sensibles'.

The False Friend Trap

Mistake: “Using 'sensible' to mean 'reasonable' or 'prudent' (like the English word).”

Correction: To say someone is 'sensible' (meaning smart/reasonable) use 'razonable' or 'prudente.' Remember: Spanish 'sensible' = English 'sensitive'.

Tierno vs. Delicado for Food

The most common mistake is using 'delicado' for food. Remember, 'tierno' specifically means tender in the sense of soft and easily eaten food. 'Delicado' is for things that are fragile or require careful handling, not for the texture of food.

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