Which one should you use?
The choice of word can change based on what you are describing or where you are. es tierno is used specifically for things that are cute in a tender or heartwarming way. Regionally, es mono is a very common way to say something is cute in Spain, whereas es lindo is more common in Latin America.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, it is very common to use es mono to express that something is cute.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the adjective must match the gender and number of the noun it describes. If the thing being described is a feminine noun, use es linda instead of es lindo. To say "they are cute" for a group of masculine or mixed-gender items, use son lindos. Additionally, you can intensify the feeling of cuteness by adding the suffix -ito or -ita to the end of an adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
/es lindo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When describing a feminine noun, do not forget to change the gender of the adjective. For example, do not say es lindo for a feminine noun like la niña.
Did you know?
- The word lindo may have once meant 'legitimate' or 'lawful' before it evolved to mean 'cute' or 'pretty'. It shares a possible ancestor with the English word 'legible'.
- In Spain, saying es mono to describe something cute literally translates to 'it is a monkey'.
- The word tierno for heartwarming cuteness is also the word used to describe 'tender' meat or 'young' plants.
Examples in context
- Ese cachorro es lindoThat puppy is cute
- Tienes una casa bonitaYou have a cute house
- Tu bebé es preciosoYour baby is precious
- ¡Qué mono! ¡Es tan pequeño!How cute! It's so tiny!
- ¡Qué guapa es esa muñeca!That doll is so cute!
- Ese perrito es lindo.That little puppy is cute.
- El dibujo que hiciste es lindo.The drawing you made is cute.
Example conversation
Alejandro is showing Elena a photo of his new kitten.
- AlejandroMira mi gato nuevo.Look at my new cat.
- Elena¡Ay, es lindo!Oh, it is cute!
- AlejandroSí, es muy pequeño.Yes, it is very small.
- ElenaMe encanta el color.I love the color.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, lindo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
