delicado/a
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “delicado/a” mean in English?
delicate, sensitive
delicate, sensitive (un asunto delicado — describing topics requiring careful handling)
Example sentences
Se trata de un asunto bastante delicado que requiere un tratamiento especialmente cuidadoso por ambas partes.
This is a rather delicate matter that requires especially careful handling by both parties.
La directora abordó el tema delicado de las bajas laborales con mucha sensibilidad y profesionalidad.
The director tackled the sensitive issue of sick leave with a great deal of sensitivity and professionalism.
Reconocemos que la situación es delicada y por eso queremos asegurarnos de actuar con la máxima discreción.
We recognise that the situation is delicate and that is why we want to ensure we act with the utmost discretion.
How to use it
Delicado/a in the register-control sense means 'delicate', 'sensitive', or 'tricky' — describing topics, situations, or tasks that require careful handling. It is a common hedging device: 'Se trata de un asunto delicado' pre-frames a topic as requiring tactful treatment. Common collocations: un tema delicado (a sensitive topic), una situación delicada (a delicate situation), hay que tratarlo con delicadeza (it needs to be handled carefully). Physical meaning (fragile, delicate taste) is separate and context-distinguishes.
Common mistake
Physical vs. register sense: 'una porcelana delicada' (fragile china) vs. 'un asunto delicado' (a sensitive matter) — both are correct uses but the register-control sense is the B2 target. Learners sometimes over-use delicado as a filler evaluation; at B2, the key skill is recognising when a topic needs to be signalled as delicado before tackling it — this is a pragmatic framing function, not just a description.