ternura
nounCEFR B2
What does “ternura” mean in English?
a gentle, affectionate feeling towards someone, especially someone vulnerable
Example sentences
La abuela abrazó al niño con una ternura que conmovió a todos los presentes.
The grandmother hugged the child with a tenderness that moved everyone present.
El documental muestra, con gran ternura, la relación entre el cuidador y los animales rescatados.
The documentary shows, with great tenderness, the relationship between the caretaker and the rescued animals.
How to use it
La ternura (noun, feminine) means 'tenderness' — a gentle, loving feeling. Common collocations: mirar con ternura, tratar con ternura, un gesto de ternura. It's the noun form of tierno/a (tender, affectionate), and pairs naturally with cariño (affection) in emotional description.
Common mistake
Ternura (tenderness, an emotion) should not be confused with ternero/a (calf, a baby cow) — the words share a root related to 'tierno' (tender/young) but refer to entirely different things.
Topics
Related B2 words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes), B2 Nociones generales: sentimientos y em.