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gentle and Spanish gentil
In English
gentle
soft / mild
In Spanish
gentil
amable
Spanish "gentil" means: kind / courteous
Why they get mixed up 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.
If you want to say...
- gentlesuave o delicado
- politegentil
- gentlemancaballero
Examples
Be gentle with the baby.
Sé delicado con el bebé.
A gentle breeze blew.
Soplaba una brisa suave.
She has a gentle voice.
Tiene una voz suave.
Use a gentle soap for sensitive skin.
Usa un jabón suave para piel sensible.
Common mistakes in Spanish
Incorrect: Sé gentil con el bebé.
Correct: Ten cuidado con el bebé.
Gentil means courteous or kind. For gentle as careful or soft, use suave, delicado or con cuidado.
Incorrect: Usa un jabón gentil.
Correct: Usa un jabón suave.
Use suave for gentle products.
Phrases you will hear
- a gentle touchun toque suave
- a gentle breezeuna brisa suave
- a gentle voiceuna voz suave
- gentle soapjabón suave
- a gentlemanun caballero
- politegentil (cortés)
In a conversation
- A:
Be gentle with the baby.
Sé suave con el bebé.
- B:
I will. I'll use a gentle voice.
Lo haré. Usaré una voz suave.
- A:
You're very kind.
Eres muy amable.
- B:
Thanks. A gentleman is always polite.
Gracias. Un caballero siempre es cortés.
Test yourself
"A gentle touch" is a touch that is...
To remember it
Gentle = soft/mild. Kind/courteous (Spanish "gentil") = kind/courteous.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spanish "gentil" mean?
Spanish "gentil" means "kind / courteous". It looks like the English "gentle", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "gentle" means "soft / mild".
Does English "gentle" mean the same as Spanish "gentil"?
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.