gentle
gb/d͡ʒˈɛntəl/ us/d͡ʒˈɛntəl/
A2
English
~ 2700
gyengéd, szelíd, enyhe, könnyű, lankás, megszelídít, enyhít, megnyugtat, előkelő származású, előkelő, nemesi származású
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is gentle with [someone/something]
She spoke in a gentle voice to calm the child.
Gyengéd hangon beszélt, hogy megnyugtassa a gyereket.
He has a gentle nature that makes everyone feel at ease.
Olyan szelíd természete van, hogy mindenki jól érzi magát mellette.
Please be gentle when handling the fragile vase.
Learner examples
The teacher is very gentle with the students.
A tanár nagyon kedvesen és türelmesen bánik a diákokkal.
He gave the baby a gentle hug.
Gyengéden megölelte a babát.
She has a gentle smile.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'gentle' with 'soft'. 'Soft' usually describes texture, while 'gentle' describes behavior or manner.
Meaning
Kind and mild in manner
Collocations
gentle voice
|gentle touch
|gentle smile
|gentle manner
Synonyms
kind (More general; applies to all considerate behavior, not just mildness.)
|
tender (Often emphasizes emotional warmth or affection.)
Antonyms
harsh (Implies severity or cruelty, opposite of mildness.)
|
rough (Describes physical or emotional lack of smoothness or care.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|personality
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Kind and calm; not rough or unkind.
Showing a kind, calm, and considerate nature; not harsh or severe.
A2
2
Usage pattern:
gentle [noun]
A gentle breeze came through the open window.
Enyhe szellő fújt be a nyitott ablakon.
We enjoyed a gentle walk along the river.
Kellemes, könnyű sétát tettünk a folyó mentén.
The medicine has a gentle effect on the stomach.
Learner examples
A gentle wind is blowing.
Enyhe szél fúj.
The hill has a gentle slope.
A dombnak enyhe a lejtése.
He spoke in a gentle tone.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'gentle' with 'slow'. 'Gentle' refers to force, not speed.
Meaning
Mild in force or effect
Collocations
gentle breeze
|gentle rain
|gentle slope
Synonyms
mild (Often used for weather, flavors, or conditions; similar in meaning.)
Antonyms
strong (Indicates high force or intensity.)
|
intense (Indicates extreme strength or effect.)
Themes
nature
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not strong or hard; light in force.
Not strong, severe, or intense; mild in effect, force, or degree.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
to gentle [someone/something]
She tried to gentle the frightened child.
Megpróbálta megnyugtatni a rémült gyereket.
He spoke softly to gentle the horse before riding it.
Halkan beszélt a lóhoz, hogy megnyugtassa, mielőtt felül rá.
The music helped to gentle her nerves.
Learner examples
He tried to gentle the baby.
Megpróbálta megnyugtatni a babát.
Soft words can gentle angry people.
A kedves szavak megnyugtathatják a dühös embereket.
Music can gentle my feelings.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize 'gentle' as a verb is less common and often literary or specialized.
Meaning
To calm or soften someone or something
Collocations
gentle a horse
|gentle the mood
Synonyms
soothe (Emphasizes reducing pain or distress.)
Antonyms
agitate (Means to make someone nervous, upset, or excited.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make someone feel calm or less angry.
To make someone calmer, softer, or less severe in manner or action.
C1
FORMAL
4
She was of gentle birth and well-educated.
Előkelő származású és művelt volt.
In those days, only the gentle could afford such luxuries.
Akkoriban csak az előkelők engedhettek meg maguknak ilyen fényűzést.
The novel describes the life of a gentle lady in Victorian England.
Learner examples
He was from a gentle family.
Előkelő családból származott.
Only gentle people lived in that big house.
Abban a nagy házban csak előkelő emberek laktak.
She married into a gentle family.
Meaning
Of high social status
Collocations
gentle birth
Synonyms
noble (Directly refers to hereditary aristocracy.)
Antonyms
common (Refers to ordinary people without noble status.)
Themes
society
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
From a high social class; noble.
Belonging to a family of high social rank; noble-born.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gentle
IPA
GB/d͡ʒˈɛntəl/
US/d͡ʒˈɛntəl/
Syllables & stress
gentle (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (gentle)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: gentle
- Comparative: gentler
- Superlative: gentlest
Verb
- Base: gentle
- 3rd Person Singular: gentles
- Present Participle: gentling
- Past: gentled
Word family
Forms
gentles
verb
gentling
verb
gentled
verb
gentler
adjective
gentlest
adjective
Core family
gently
adverb A2
gentleness
noun B2
Related words
gentleman
noun B1
Negative and opposite forms
rough
adjective A2
Advanced or less common
gentlemanly
adjective
Expressions
gentle as a lamb
1/d͡ʒˈɛntəl ˈæz ə lˈæm/
idiom
Extremely mild and harmless
Very quiet and kind; not dangerous at all.
Examples
- The new puppy is as gentle as a lamb.
- He seems tough but is gentle as a lamb with his kids.
take it gently
1/tˈeɪk ˈɪt d͡ʒˈɛntli/
fixed phrase
Do something slowly and carefully
Do something slowly and with care so nothing is hurt or broken.
Examples
- Take it gently when you move the chair.
- She told him to take it gently with the injured bird.
gentle giant
1/d͡ʒˈɛntəl d͡ʒˈaɪənt/
idiom
A big but kind person
A very big person who is kind and friendly.
Examples
- Although he looks scary, he's really a gentle giant.
- Despite his size, Mark is a gentle giant who loves animals.
- The actor is known as a gentle giant off-screen.
- The wrestler was known as a gentle giant outside the ring.