suave
/ˈswabe/
To say plush in Spanish, in the sense of soft and fluffy, use suave. For things made of plush fabric, say de felpa. If unsure, use suave. Wiktionary also lists lene.
Meaning: having a soft, fluffy exterior (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| suave | /ˈswabe/ |
| lene | /ˈlene/ |
suave describes a soft texture you can feel, as in Este peluche es muy suave, this plush toy is very soft. To exclaim how plush something is, say ¡Qué mullido!
Which one should you use?
suave more often means smooth or soft to the touch, like skin or silk. For an object made of plush material, de felpa is more natural, as in El sofá está cubierto de felpa. lene is a rare word with a similar meaning.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The IPA is /ˈswabe/. The v sounds close to a soft b.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking contexts, calling a person suave can be a way of saying they are 'smooth' or 'charming' in their social interactions. It shifts the meaning from a physical texture to a personality trait.
- The word suave originally meant 'sweet' or 'pleasant' in Latin, rather than just referring to texture. It describes a sensation that is delightful to the senses, not just a physical feeling of softness.
- The word suave is also used in Spanish to describe a person's character or a piece of music that is 'smooth' or 'mellow'. It moves beyond tactile softness to describe a gentle temperament or a flowing rhythm.
Examples in context
- Me regalaron un peluche gigante que es muy suave y abrazable.I was given a giant plush toy that is very soft and huggable.
- ¡Qué suave está esta felpa! Me encantaría tener una cobija así.This plush fabric is so soft! I'd love to have a blanket like this.
- Estos cojines son tan suaves que me dan ganas de pasar todo el día en el sofá.These cushions are so plush that I feel like spending the whole day on the sofa.
- un juguete de felpaA plush toy
- Esta manta es muy suave.This blanket is very soft.
- El pelaje de este conejo es suave.The fur of this rabbit is soft.
- Me gusta la textura suave de esta alfombra.I like the soft texture of this rug.
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are looking at a new teddy bear in a shop.
- MaríaMira qué lindo es este oso.Look how cute this bear is.
- AlejandroSí, y es muy suave.Yes, and it is very soft.
- MaríaEs perfecto para un regalo.It is perfect for a gift.
- AlejandroTienes razón, María.You are right, María.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “plush” translations and entries suave, lene, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lene, suave, CC BY-SA 4.0.
