cute
gb/kjˈut/ us/kjˈut/
A2
English
~ 4000
aranyos, bájos, cuki, ravasz, szellemes, ötletes, helyes, csinos, szexi
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[something] is cute
That baby is so cute in her little hat.
Olyan aranyos az a kisbaba a kis sapkájában.
He gave me a cute smile from across the room.
A szoba túlsó végéből bájosan rám mosolygott.
I bought a cute dress for the party.
Your handwriting is really cute and neat.
They have a cute little house by the beach.
Learner examples
The cat is very cute.
A macska nagyon aranyos.
She has a cute bag.
Aranyos táskája van.
I think your shoes are cute.
He looks cute in that shirt.
This is a cute picture.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cute' with 'hot' or 'handsome', which have different connotations and are more about physical attraction than sweetness or charm.
Meaning
attractive in a sweet way
Collocations
cute puppy
|cute dress
|cute smile
|really cute
|look cute
Synonyms
adorable (Stronger emotional appeal, often used for things that inspire affection.)
|
pretty (Focuses more on beauty, not necessarily sweetness.)
Antonyms
ugly (Unpleasant or unattractive in appearance.)
|
unattractive (Lacking appeal or charm.)
Themes
appearance
|emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Looking nice in a small, pretty, or sweet way that makes people like it.
Pleasant to look at in a pretty, charming, or endearing way, often evoking affection.
B1
INFORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is cute [for doing something]
That's a cute way to solve the problem.
Ez egy ravasz megoldás a problémára.
He made a cute remark that made everyone laugh.
Szellemes megjegyzést tett, amin mindenki nevetett.
It was a cute trick, but it didn't work twice.
She gave me a cute answer to avoid the real question.
Learner examples
That is a cute idea.
Ez egy ravasz ötlet.
He told a cute joke.
Szellemes viccet mesélt.
She made a cute plan for the party.
It was a cute way to say no.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this meaning for situations where 'clever' would be more precise, especially in formal contexts.
Meaning
clever and charming
Collocations
cute trick
|cute idea
|too cute
Synonyms
clever (Focuses on intelligence and ingenuity without necessarily being charming.)
|
witty (Emphasizes quick and humorous intelligence.)
Antonyms
dull (Lacking cleverness or charm.)
Themes
personality
|social
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Being smart in a way that is also fun or attractive to others.
Showing smartness or ingenuity in a way that is appealing or slightly playful.
B1
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] is cute
That actor is so cute in his new movie.
Az a színész nagyon helyes az új filmjében.
She thinks her coworker is really cute.
Szerinte a munkatársa nagyon helyes.
He's not my type, but he's definitely cute.
Learner examples
My boyfriend is very cute.
A barátom nagyon helyes.
I think she is cute.
Szerintem csinos.
He is a cute man.
Common mistake:
Learners may use 'cute' for older people where it can sound patronizing unless intended playfully.
Meaning
youthfully attractive sexually
Collocations
cute guy
|cute girl
|really cute
Synonyms
good-looking (General attractiveness without the youthful or charming focus of 'cute'.)
|
hot (Stronger sexual attractiveness, less about innocence or charm.)
Antonyms
plain (Not especially attractive but not unattractive either.)
Themes
appearance
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Good-looking in a young and sweet way, sometimes meaning someone is sexy too.
Physically attractive in a way that suggests youthfulness and charm, often used in casual speech about people.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cute
IPA
GB/kjˈut/
US/kjˈut/
Syllables & stress
cute (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cute)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: cute
- Comparative: cuter
- Superlative: cutest
Word family
Forms
cuter
adjective
cutest
adjective
Core family
cuteness
noun
Related words
cutely
adverb
cutie
noun
cutesy
adjective
Expressions
look cute
1/lˈʊk kjˈut/
fixed phrase
appear pretty or endearing
To seem nice and sweet when someone sees you.
Examples
- You look cute in that hat.
- The puppy looks cute when it sleeps.
nice but not cute
1/nˈaɪs bˈʌt nˈɑt kjˈut/
fixed phrase
informal
pleasant but not attractive in endearing way
A way to say someone is kind but not good-looking in a sweet way.
Examples
- He's nice but not cute, so I don't see him that way.
- The dress is nice but not cute—it needs more color.
play it cute
1/plˈeɪ ˈɪt kjˈut/
idiom
informal
act cleverly to gain advantage
To act in a smart or careful way to get what you want, sometimes by hiding your real thoughts.
Examples
- He tried to play it cute during the meeting, but the boss saw through him.
- Don't play it cute—just give me a straight answer.