leve
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “leve” mean in English?
1.mild, slight — small in degree; not severe or serious
mild, slight — small in degree; not severe or serious (lesión leve, sabor leve)
2.slight, minor — small in degree or importance; barely noticeable
slight, minor — small in degree or importance; barely noticeable (leve mejoría, leve caída, herida leve)
Example sentences
El accidente de tráfico tuvo consecuencias leves: solo se registraron daños materiales y dos heridos con contusiones menores.
The traffic accident had minor consequences: only material damage was recorded and two people injured with minor bruises.
La mejoría fue leve durante las primeras semanas, pero a partir del tercer mes el paciente avanzó de forma notable.
The improvement was slight during the first weeks, but from the third month the patient progressed notably.
How to use it
Leve means 'mild, slight' — small in degree; not severe or serious. Common collocations: lesión leve, infracción leve, mejoría leve, diferencia leve, sabor leve. Ser/estar: ser for inherent mildness; estar for a temporary assessed state ('las heridas están leves'). Antonym: grave. Register: medical, legal.
Common mistake
Leve ≠ pequeño: pequeño refers to physical size; leve refers to degree of severity or intensity. 'Una lesión pequeña' focuses on size; 'una lesión leve' focuses on severity.