apertura suave
/apeɾtuɾa swabe/from spelling rules
The English phrase "soft opening" can be translated into Spanish as apertura suave.
This phrase refers to a period of limited operation for a business before it officially opens its doors to the general public.
Which one should you use?
You may also use apertura parcial to describe a partial opening or a limited-scale opening of a business.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, some people may opt for Apertura Gradual to express the concept of a soft opening.
Did you know?
- If you are discussing a business opening and use the word abertura instead of apertura, you might accidentally refer to a physical crack or a hole in a wall.
- While you might use apertura suave for a business, if you use the word suave to describe a person's character in some Spanish-speaking cultures, it can imply they are 'easy-going' or even 'weak'.
- The word suave shares its ancient roots with the English word 'sweet', stemming from the Proto-Indo-European root for things that are pleasing to the senses.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are talking about a new cafe in town.
- LucíaHola Alejandro, ¿ya fuiste al nuevo café?Hi Alejandro, have you been to the new cafe yet?
- AlejandroSí, fui ayer porque tienen una apertura suave.Yes, I went yesterday because they have a soft opening.
- Lucía¿Y qué te pareció el servicio?And what did you think of the service?
- AlejandroFue lento, pero es normal en una apertura suave.It was slow, but that's normal during a soft opening.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries apertura, suave, CC BY-SA 4.0.
