To describe something as “soft” in Spanish, you have a choice between suave or blando, depending on what you’re describing. Whether you’re talking about a rabbit’s fur or a silky smooth blusa (blouse), you’ll be sure to express yourself clearly and descriptively.
Spanish is a rich language full of adjectives like “soft” and even more expressive synonyms, so you’re not limited to just one word. Start with basic Spanish words and expand your vocabulary as you encounter even more terms. In this guide, you’ll learn to how to say “soft” in Spanish correctly for every scenario.
Table of Contents
Suave
The adjective “suave” in English is often used to mean “smooth” or “agreeable,” and it’s pronounced as one syllable. In Spanish pronunciation, you’ll say SWAH-beh, and it means the opposite of “rough.”
The possible English translations really depend on what you wish to convey. Suave could mean:
- soft
- smooth
- even
- gentle
- light
- easy
The adjective suave works in any of these contexts. In these examples, see how the word suave changes in meaning slightly depending on the context.
- No hace mucho viento hoy, pero hay una brisa suave. = It’s not really windy today, but there’s a soft/light breeze.
- La textura de este vestido es muy suave. = The texture of this dress is very soft/smooth.
- Para recuperarse de una herida, empieza con un ejercicio suave. = To recover from an injury, start with a soft/gentle exercise.
Because suave ends in “e,” there is just one form that matches singular nouns, so it works with either masculine or feminine.
- un colchón suave (a soft mattress)
- una manta suave (a soft blanket)
If you’re describing a plural item, like “socks” in Spanish, follow Spanish grammar rules by adding “s” to the end.
- unos calcetines suaves (soft socks)
- unas almohadas suaves (soft pillows)
You can say that something is “very soft” in Spanish by saying muy suave. The word muy means “very”
Blando/blanda (soft/pliable)
You would use blando to describe something that can be squished or is flexible, the opposite of “rigid.” The words for “soft” can often be distinguished by comparing each one’s opposite or antonym for clarity.
- Prefiero correr en suelo blando. = I prefer to run on soft ground.
- La fruta es muy blanda. = The fruit is very soft.
- Los tendones y los ligamentos son tejidos blandos. = Tendons and ligaments are soft tissues.
- Las camas en el hotel eran blandas. = The beds in the hotel were soft.
There are four forms of this adjective, like many Spanish adjectives. To follow Spanish gender rules, choose the form that matches the noun in both gender and number.
| Spanish | Gender/Number |
| blando | masculine/singular |
| blanda | feminine/singular |
| blandos | masculine/plural |
| blandas | feminine/singular |
Suave vs. blando
There are many objects that could be described as both suave and blando, but there are subtle differences. The Real Academia Española’s Diccionario de la Lengua Española definitions show a slight nuance.
- blando: cedes with pressure/to the touch
- suave: uses “blando” in the definition, but also “smooth” and not rough.
This means una almohada (a pillow) can be both suave and blanda. When it comes to similar or difficult-to-define synonyms in Spanish, the best way to know you’re choosing the correct word is to encounter it several times in authentic contexts.
Mullido/mullida (soft/springy)
Some items might be both suave (soft to the touch) and mullido (soft/springy), like una alfombra (a rug/carpet).
- Voy a regalarle a mi mamá unas pantuflas mullidas. = I’m going to give my mom some soft slippers as a gift.
- Me gusta este suéter de lana mullido. = I like that soft wool sweater.
- Un día voy a adoptar un gatito mullido. = One day, I’m going to adopt a fluffy kitten.
Figurative or slang uses of ‘soft’
Some uses of “soft” in Spanish are figurative. Using the blando in these examples conveys the message that someone is weak or permissive.
- Sus padres son demasiado blandos, por eso se comporta así. = His parents are too soft, that’s why he behaves like that.
- ¡No seas blanda! ¡Dile cómo te sientes! = Don’t be soft! Tell him how you feel!
- Este profesor es muy blando con los estudiantes y realmente no aprenden nada. = This teacher is really soft on his students and they really don’t learn anything.
Saying ‘to soften’ in Spanish
The verb “to soften” in English has a few possible translations in Spanish. If you’re cooking, you might want to “soften” an ingredient, and if you want to make your tone sound less harsh, you would “soften” it. Notice that you can see a connection with the adjective within the verbs in Spanish.
- ablandar
- Ablanda los frijoles en agua por al menos ocho horas. = Soften the beans in water for at least 8 hours.
- suavizar
- Este producto suaviza la ropa. = This product softens clothing.
Key Takeaways about saying ‘soft’ in Spanish
Next time you want to cuddle up with a soft blanket and a soft pillow, remember how to say “soft” in Spanish.
- Use suave to mean “soft to the touch” or “smooth” for physically describing objects.
- Other options are blando (flexible/not rigid), or mullido (squishy/fluffy).
- Spanish adjectives need to match the nouns they’re describing in both gender and number.
- Listen for figurative uses of “soft” as you learn more Spanish.
0 Commentaires