What it's NOT
gentle does NOT translate to gentil.
To say "gentil" in English, use kind / courteous.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
gentle
Does NOT mean gentil
It means soft / mild
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
gentle means soft / mild.
Why it's confused
Spanish "gentil" has roots in "gentiles," non-Jews, and today describes someone polite or courteous in a formal sense. English "gentle" is soft, mild, without harshness. Different nuances of kindness.
How it's pronounced
gentleYÉN-tol
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Examples of correct use
English
Be gentle with the baby.
Spanish
Sé delicado con el bebé.
English
A gentle breeze blew.
Spanish
Soplaba una brisa suave.
A trick to remember it
Gentle = soft/mild. Kind/courteous (Spanish "gentil") = kind/courteous.
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Frequently asked questions
What does "gentle" mean in English?
"Gentle" means "soft / mild". It looks a lot like "gentil", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "gentil" in English?
To say "gentil" in English, use "kind / courteous". If you use "gentle" instead, you would actually be saying "soft / mild".
Do "gentle" and "gentil" mean the same thing?
Spanish "gentil" has roots in "gentiles," non-Jews, and today describes someone polite or courteous in a formal sense. English "gentle" is soft, mild, without harshness. Different nuances of kindness.
Other confusing false friends
More confusing false friends
Library, embarrassed, actually... the full list of words that look the same but mean something different.
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