Inklingo

How to Say "thin" in Spanish

English → Spanish

delgado

del-GAH-doh/delˈɣaðo/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'delgado' when referring to a person or animal that is slim or slender in build.
A very slender, long-legged cat standing elegantly on a green field.

Examples

Mi hermano es muy alto y delgado.

My brother is very tall and thin.

Después de la enfermedad, el perro se veía muy delgado.

After the illness, the dog looked very thin.

Ella prefiere usar ropa que la haga ver más delgada.

She prefers to wear clothes that make her look slimmer.

La pared es muy delgada y se escucha todo.

The wall is very thin and you can hear everything.

Gender and Number Agreement

Since 'delgado' is a descriptive word (adjective), its ending must match the person or thing it describes: 'el chico delgado' (masculine singular), 'la chica delgada' (feminine singular), 'los chicos delgados' (masculine plural).

Describing Consistency

You can use 'delgado' to describe liquids or foods that are watery or lack body, like a light sauce or weak coffee. It means the consistency is 'thin.'

Mixing up Delgadez and Flacura

Mistake: “Using 'flaco' in a formal context when you mean 'slim' or 'slender'.”

Correction: 'Delgado' is generally the safer and more neutral choice. 'Flaco' often implies being unhealthily or overly skinny.

delgado

del-GAH-doh/delˈɣaðo/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'delgado' to describe the narrow width of objects like walls or paper.
A very slender, long-legged cat standing elegantly on a green field.

Examples

La pared es muy delgada y se escucha todo.

The wall is very thin and you can hear everything.

Mi hermano es muy alto y delgado.

My brother is very tall and thin.

Después de la enfermedad, el perro se veía muy delgado.

After the illness, the dog looked very thin.

Ella prefiere usar ropa que la haga ver más delgada.

She prefers to wear clothes that make her look slimmer.

Gender and Number Agreement

Since 'delgado' is a descriptive word (adjective), its ending must match the person or thing it describes: 'el chico delgado' (masculine singular), 'la chica delgada' (feminine singular), 'los chicos delgados' (masculine plural).

Describing Consistency

You can use 'delgado' to describe liquids or foods that are watery or lack body, like a light sauce or weak coffee. It means the consistency is 'thin.'

Mixing up Delgadez and Flacura

Mistake: “Using 'flaco' in a formal context when you mean 'slim' or 'slender'.”

Correction: 'Delgado' is generally the safer and more neutral choice. 'Flaco' often implies being unhealthily or overly skinny.

fino

/fee-noh//ˈfino/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'fino' to describe a very narrow width or small depth, often for lines or details.
A single, very thin sewing needle lying next to a thick piece of yarn.

Examples

Dibuja una línea muy fina con el lápiz.

Draw a very thin line with the pencil.

La arena de esta playa es muy fina.

The sand on this beach is very fine.

Matching the Gender

Remember to change the ending to 'fina' if the object you are describing is feminine, like 'la mesa fina'.

Fino vs. Delgado

Mistake: “Using 'fino' to describe a person who has lost weight.”

Correction: Use 'delgado' for people. Use 'fino' for objects or textures like paper, hair, or sand.

ligera

lee-HEH-rah/liˈxe.ɾa/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'ligera' to describe something that is not heavy in weight, like a suitcase or fabric.
A large white feather drifts slowly in the air against a bright blue background, illustrating minimal weight.

Examples

Esta maleta es muy ligera, perfecta para viajar.

This suitcase is very light, perfect for traveling.

Necesito una bufanda ligera para la primavera.

I need a lightweight scarf for spring.

Agreement is Key

Since 'ligera' is an adjective, it must match the thing it describes. Use 'ligera' only for feminine singular nouns (like 'mesa' or 'mochila').

Using the wrong form

Mistake: “La caja es muy ligero.”

Correction: La caja es muy ligera. ('Caja' is feminine, so the adjective must end in -a.)

seca

SEH-kah/ˈse.ka/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'seca' to describe a person's build when they are gaunt or skinny, implying a lack of flesh.
A close-up of a brown, shriveled leaf resting on cracked, dry earth, illustrating a lack of moisture.

Examples

La ropa ya está completamente seca. Podemos guardarla.

The clothes are already completely dry. We can put them away.

Ella es muy seca con sus respuestas, no le gusta hablar mucho.

She is very blunt (or sharp) with her answers; she doesn't like to talk much.

Necesitas regar la planta; la tierra está muy seca.

You need to water the plant; the soil is very dry.

Adjective Agreement

Remember that 'seca' is the feminine form. If you are describing a masculine object (like 'el suelo'), you must use 'seco'.

Confusing Adjective and Verb

Mistake: “Using 'seca' (adjective) when you mean the action of drying (verb).”

Correction: Make sure your sentence structure requires a descriptive word, not an action word. 'La pared está seca' (The wall is dry). 'La secadora seca la pared' (The dryer dries the wall).

Delgado vs. Fino vs. Ligera

Learners often confuse 'delgado' and 'fino' when describing width. Remember 'delgado' usually refers to the general slenderness of a person/animal or the narrowness of something substantial like a wall, while 'fino' is for very fine or precise narrowness, like a drawn line.

Related Translations

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