German word

sanft

Pronunciation

IPA/zanft/

Meaning

  • adjectivegentle

Example

Sie hat eine sanfte Stimme.

Her voice is gentle.

Illustration for sanft (gentle)

More examples

Mit sanften Worten tröstete sie ihn.

She comforted him with gentle words.

Core concept

A feather-light touch comforts rather than presses, with the same mild quality carried by a voice or personal manner.

Common phrases

  • sanftes Licht

    gentle light

  • sanfte Worte

    gentle words

  • eine sanfte Bewegung

    a gentle movement

Similar words

freundlich: Warm and polite in attitude or expression.
ruhig: Calm and undisturbed by what happens around it.
zärtlich: Tenderly expressing affection through touch or words.
weich: Having a soft texture that gives way easily to pressure.

Definition in German

Beschreibt eine freundliche, rücksichtvolle oder milde Haltung einer Person; oft gebraucht für Stimme, Blick oder Umgangsweise.

Word origin

Sanft comes through Middle High German sanfte from Old High German samft and preserves an old Germanic sense of gentleness.

Usage tips

  • Sanft does not necessarily mean quiet; leise describes low volume, whereas sanft describes a gentle or soothing quality.

Other meanings

  • softadjective
  • mildadjective

Opposites

  • harschharshadjective
  • heftigintenseadjective

Related words

  • Sanftheitgentlenessnoun

Word lists with this word