Meaning
delicate
- frail
- sensitive
- gentle, mild
In a sentence
Questo maglione è delicato, lavalo a mano.
This sweater is delicate, wash it by hand.
Hai già parlato con lei di quel tema delicato?
Have you already spoken with her about that delicate topic?
Dopo la febbre, il bambino era ancora molto delicato.
After the fever, the child was still very frail.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| delicato | masculine · singular |
| delicata | feminine · singular |
| delicati | masculine · plural |
| delicate | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use delicato for situations, topics, flavors, fabrics, or skin. For a kind person, gentile is usually more natural.
- Delicato often means tact-sensitive: una questione delicata, un argomento delicato. It is not only about physical fragility.
- With food or perfume, delicato suggests subtle, not bland. Debole means weak; leggero means light.