qué tierno
/ke tjeɾno/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "how sweet" is qué tierno.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of qué (how/what) and tierno (tender/soft), literally meaning "how tender".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, you may use qué rico or qué rica to express how sweet something is. In Spain, the phrase ¡qué mono! is often used to express how sweet something is, although it literally translates to "how cute".
How does it change in a sentence?
If the person or thing being described is feminine, the adjective must change to the feminine form qué tierna.
How do you pronounce it?
/ke tjeɾno/
Did you know?
- While qué mono means 'how sweet' or 'how cute' in Spain, in other Spanish-speaking countries it literally refers to a monkey.
- Using qué tierno to describe a man can sometimes be seen as belittling or overly infantalizing, depending on the context.
- The word tierno shares a common ancestor with the English word 'tender', both originating from the same Latin root.
Examples in context
- ¡Qué dulce está este pastel!How sweet this cake is!
- Esta fruta es tan dulce que no puedo resistirme a comer más.This fruit is so sweet, I can't resist eating more.
- ¡Qué tierno es ese perrito!How sweet that puppy is!
- ¡Qué tierno es el cachorro!How sweet the puppy is!
- Tu mensaje fue muy lindo, ¡qué tierno!Your message was so lovely, how sweet!
- Mira ese video, ¡qué tierno es!Look at that video, how sweet it is!
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are watching a video of a kitten online.
- ElenaMira este video de un gatito, Daniel.Look at this video of a kitten, Daniel.
- Daniel¡Oh, qué tierno es!Oh, how sweet it is!
- ElenaSí, es muy adorable.Yes, it is very adorable.
- DanielMe encanta, Elena.I love it, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries qué, tierno, CC BY-SA 4.0.
