Spanish Conversation · Level 139
45 words
Spanish word
gentil
Pronunciation
IPA/xenˈtil/
Meaning
- adjectivekind
Example
Es muy gentil con los niños.
She is very kind to the children.
More examples
Fue gentil con la vecina al cuidar su gato.
She was kind to the neighbor when she looked after her cat.
Core concept
An act of considerate politeness.
Common phrases
ser gentil con alguien
be kind to someone
muy gentil
very kind
una persona gentil
a kind person
Similar words
amable: Shows kind, pleasant manners that feel friendly and approachable.
cortés: Behaves with formal politeness and respectful etiquette.
atento: Notices others' needs and responds thoughtfully with attentive care.
simpático: Creates an easygoing, likeable impression that puts others at ease.
Definition in Spanish
Que muestra amabilidad y cortesía hacia otras personas, actuando con atención en el trato.
Word origin
Derived from Latin gentilis 'of the same family', the term came to connote being well born and courteous and so now denotes kindness and politeness in Spanish.
Usage tips
- A common phrase is muy gentil de su parte, used for a formal expression of thanks while muy amable is preferred in casual conversation.