suave

/swɑːv/ (bre, ipa) · [swˈɑv] /swɑːv/ (ame, ipa) · [swˈɑv] /ˈswäv How to pronounce suave (audio)/ (ame, mw)

suave — adjective

  • suavepositive
  • suavercomparative
  • suavestsuperlative

1. behaving in a confident, polite, and graceful way that other people find attract

1.形容詞C1
釋義

behaving in a confident, polite, and graceful way that other people find attractive — though the smoothness can come across as practised, and listeners sometimes wonder whether the warmth is genuine. Most often used of men.

例句

Gabriel made a suave little bow and kissed the host's hand before sitting down.

suave + concrete physical gesture

The new ambassador was charming and suave, but the older diplomats did not quite trust him.

pattern: charming and suave (paired with another charm adjective)

同義詞
  • urbane

    more formal; emphasises city polish and worldly knowledge rather than physical attractiveness

  • smooth

    more openly negative; stronger hint that the charm is a tactic

  • polished

    neutral; about manners and self-presentation, no hint of insincerity

  • debonair

    old-fashioned and admiring; suggests a man who is stylish and light-hearted

反義詞
  • awkward

    uncomfortable in social situations, the opposite of smooth manners

  • boorish

    formal; rude and unrefined in company

  • uncouth

    rough in manner; the strongest contrast with polished sociability

用法筆記

Subject is almost always a man, or something a man does (a suave smile, a suave manner). The word carries a mild warning — a suave person is pleasant on the surface, and the speaker is not yet sure if the politeness is real. Compare with 'charming' (more neutral) and 'smooth' (more openly negative).

常見錯誤

❌She wore a suave red dress to the party.
✅She wore an elegant red dress to the party.
💡'suave' describes a person's manner, not the look of clothes or objects.
❌The coffee tasted very suave.
✅The coffee tasted very smooth.
💡'suave' is not used for texture or flavour in normal English; use 'smooth' instead.