adjectivenounnoun

suave

soft

Que tiene una textura blanda o lisa y no causa molestia al tocarlo.

Definition & meaning

Suave is an adjective with several related meanings:

Soft or smooth to the touch: una tela suave means “a soft fabric.”
Gentle or delicate: it can describe a person’s manner, a movement, or a touch.
Mild or subtle: used for flavors, smells, sounds, colors, or weather—for example, a mild flavor or a soft sound.
Calm or gradual: it can describe an action or change that happens without force or abruptness.

In some informal contexts, ¡Suave! can mean “Easy!” or “Take it slow!”

Grammar & Word origin

Suave is an adjective and has the same form for masculine and feminine singular nouns. Its plural is suaves. For example, it can describe both a masculine noun and a feminine noun without changing form.

It comes from Latin suavis, meaning “pleasant” or “sweet.” It is not made up of smaller Spanish word parts.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms depend on the context:

blando means “soft,” especially when something yields to pressure; suave can also mean smooth, gentle, or mild.
liso means “smooth” or “even” in texture, but does not usually describe a gentle manner or mild flavor.
delicado means “delicate” or “gentle,” often suggesting sensitivity or fragility.
leve means “light” or “slight,” emphasizing low intensity or weight.
apacible means “calm” or “peaceful,” especially when describing a person or atmosphere.

Possible antonyms also depend on the sense:

áspero means “rough” or “harsh,” especially in texture or sound.
duro means “hard” or “firm,” the opposite of suave when it means soft.
brusco means “abrupt” or “rough,” often describing a movement, manner, or change.
intenso means “intense” or “strong,” particularly as an opposite when suave means mild or subtle.