adj · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/kjuːt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
homophone: Qt
rhymes with -uːt
CMU ARPABET:K Y UW1 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Possessing physical features, behaviors, personality traits or other properties that are mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals; e.g. fair, dainty, round, and soft physical features, disproportionately large eyes and head, playfulness, fragility, helplessness, curiosity or shyness, innocence, affectionate behavior.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Our reaction to cute attributes is understood as the way nature ensures mammals care for their young.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Lovable, charming, attractive or pleasing, especially in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Let's go to the mall and look for cute girls.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Sexually attractive or pleasing; gorgeous.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He's got such cute buns.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Affected or contrived to charm; mincingly clever; precious; cutesy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The actor's performance was too cute for me. All that mugging to the audience killed the humor.
Don't get cute with me, boy!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Mentally keen or discerning (See also acute)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Cute trick, but can you do it consistently?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: clever, shrewd
Antonyms: none provided
6
adj
Meaning 6
Evincing cleverness; surprising in its elegance or unconventionality (but of limited importance).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: especially
Topics: mathematics, sciences
Examples
There's a cute alternative proof of this using lambda calculus.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
obviously contrived to charm
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an insufferably precious performance
a child with intolerably cute mannerisms
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: precious
Antonyms: none provided
8
adjective satellite
Meaning 8
attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a cute kid with pigtails
a cute little apartment
cunning kittens
a cunning baby
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: cunning
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Aphetic form of acute, originally meaning “keenly perceptive or discerning, shrewd” (1731). Meaning transferred to “pretty, fetching” by US students (slang) c. 1834. Meaning drifted further to describe the pleasing attraction to features usually possessed by the young.
Across languages
Translations
175 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Afrikaans:
oulik
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
American Sign Language:
H@Chin-PalmBackFingerUp Flatten
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Arabic:
فَاتِن
(fātin)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Arabic:
قَشِيب
(qašīb)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Arabic:
جَذَّاب
(jaḏḏāb)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Arabic:
حِلو
(ḥilu)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Armenian:
դուրեկան
(durekan)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Armenian:
սիրուն
(sirun)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Armenian:
սիրունատես
(sirunates)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Armenian:
պուպուշ
(pupuš)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Bulgarian:
мил
(mil)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Catalan:
bufó
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Chinese Mandarin:
可愛 /可爱
(kě'ài)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Czech:
roztomilý
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Danish:
nuttet
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Danish:
sød
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Dutch:
schattig
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Dutch:
koddig
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Dutch:
lief
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Dutch:
zoetjes
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Esperanto:
ĉarma
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Esperanto:
aminda
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Esperanto:
dolĉa
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Esperanto:
beleta
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Faroese:
søtur
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Finnish:
suloinen
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Finnish:
söpö
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Finnish:
lutunen
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
French:
mignon
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Georgian:
საყვარელი
(saq̇vareli)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Georgian:
სასიამოვნო
(sasiamovno)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
German:
goldig
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
German:
lieb
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
German:
niedlich
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
German:
süß
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Hawaiian:
nani
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Hebrew:
חמוד
(khamud)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Hebrew:
חמודה
(khamuda)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Hindi:
प्यारा
(pyārā)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Hungarian:
aranyos
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Hungarian:
helyes
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Hungarian:
cuki
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Hungarian:
édes
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Icelandic:
sætur
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Icelandic:
snotur
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Ido:
miniona
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Indonesian:
imut
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Interlingua:
sympathic
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Interlingua:
gratiose
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Italian:
carino
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Italian:
grazioso
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Japanese:
可愛い
(kawaii)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Japanese:
キュートな
(kyūto na)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Japanese:
メロい
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Kapampangan:
matimyas
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Kapampangan:
katimyas na
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Khmer:
គួរឱ្យស្រឡាញ់
(kuə ʼaoy srɑlañ)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Korean:
귀엽다
(gwiyeopda)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Korean:
귀여운
(gwiyeoun)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Lao:
ເຈາະເບາະ
(chǫ bǫ)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Latin:
bellulum
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Macedonian:
симпатична
(simpatična)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Malay:
comel
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Northern Mansi:
я̄тил
(â̄til)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Māori:
pīwari
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Māori:
orotika
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Norwegian:
søt
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Old English:
swēte
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Persian:
ناز
(nâz)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Persian:
ملوس
(malus)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Polish:
słodki
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Polish:
uroczy
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Portuguese:
fofo
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Romanian:
drăguț
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Romanian:
drăgălaș
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Russian:
ми́лый
(mílyj)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Russian:
хоро́шенький
(xoróšenʹkij)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Russian:
симпати́чный
(simpatíčnyj)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Scottish Gaelic:
bòidheach
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Scottish Gaelic:
stampa
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Serbo-Croatian:
сладак
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Serbo-Croatian:
sladak
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Sicilian:
biddicchiu
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Slovene:
srčkan
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Spanish:
gracioso
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Spanish:
chulo
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Spanish:
pituso
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Spanish:
monono
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Swedish:
gullig
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Swedish:
söt
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Tamil:
அன்பான
(aṉpāṉa)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Thai:
น่ารัก
(nâa-rák)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Tibetan:
སྙིང་རྗེ་པོ
(snying rje po)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Turkish:
şirin
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Ukrainian:
ми́лий
(mýlyj)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Ukrainian:
симпати́чний
(sympatýčnyj)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Urdu:
معصوم
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Vietnamese:
dễ thương
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Vietnamese:
đáng yêu
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Welsh:
ciwt
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Welsh:
pert
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Yiddish:
זיס
(zis)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Yiddish:
באַחנט
(bakhéynt)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Yiddish:
חנעוודיק
(khéynevdik)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Yiddish:
באַטעמט
(batámt)
— having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals
Arabic:
عسول
('asul)
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Arabic:
أمور
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Arabic:
أمورة
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Bulgarian:
привлекателен
(privlekatelen)
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Catalan:
maco
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Dutch:
leuk
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Dutch:
geestig
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Dutch:
guitig
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Dutch:
olijk
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Esperanto:
ĉarma
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Esperanto:
aminda
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Esperanto:
dolĉa
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Esperanto:
beleta
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
French:
joli
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
French:
mignon
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Greek:
χαριτωμένος
(charitoménos)
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Greek:
χαριτωμένη
(charitoméni)
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Greek:
χαριτωμένο
(charitoméno)
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Hawaiian:
uʻi
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Hungarian:
csinos
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Hungarian:
csini
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Hungarian:
bájos
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Hungarian:
elbűvölő
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Hungarian:
vonzó
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Ido:
beleta
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Indonesian:
imut
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Interlingua:
sympathic
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Interlingua:
gratiose
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Irish:
álainn
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Irish:
gleoite
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Irish:
galánta
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Italian:
carino
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Kapampangan:
matimyas
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Latin:
bellulus
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Latin:
bellula
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Latin:
bellulum
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Old English:
swēte
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Polish:
urzekający
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Portuguese:
bonitinho
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Portuguese:
giro
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Russian:
симпати́чный
(simpatíčnyj)
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Russian:
привлека́тельный
(privlekátelʹnyj)
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Scottish Gaelic:
bòidheach
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Scottish Gaelic:
stampa
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Spanish:
mono
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Spanish:
monono
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Swedish:
söt
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Swedish:
fin
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Ukrainian:
прива́бливий
(pryváblyvyj)
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Ukrainian:
га́рний
(hárnyj)
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Ukrainian:
гарню́ній
(harnjúnij)
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Ukrainian:
гарне́нький
(harnénʹkyj)
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Ukrainian:
хороше́нький
(xorošénʹkyj)
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Vietnamese:
dễ thương
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Vietnamese:
đáng yêu
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Yiddish:
זיס
(zis)
— attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way
Dutch:
knap
— dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd
Hungarian:
ravasz
— dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd
Hungarian:
cseles
— dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd
Hungarian:
agyafúrt
— dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd
Hungarian:
furfangos
— dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd
Hungarian:
minden hájjal megkent
— dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd
Irish:
glic
— dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd
Polish:
sprytny
— dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd
Polish:
cwany
— dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd
Swedish:
klipsk
— dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd
Swedish:
slug
— dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd
Swedish:
listig
— dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd
