sutil

subtle

adjective soo-TEEL Rare

Origin: From Latin subtilis (fine-woven).

Also means

fine, delicate

Usage Note

Sutil is invariable for gender (un cambio sutil, una diferencia sutil) and describes anything refined and barely perceptible — a subtle hint, a delicate flavor, or a fine distinction. The noun form is sutileza (subtlety). In philosophical writing sutil sometimes borders on the meaning of 'ingenious' or 'clever'.

Examples

"Hay una diferencia sutil entre los dos colores."

Natural Translation

There is a subtle difference between the two colors.

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