leve 30秒で
- Leve means slight, minor, or light in terms of intensity or importance.
- It is commonly used in medical, legal, and weather-related contexts in Spanish.
- It is the opposite of 'grave' (serious) and is distinct from 'ligero' (light weight).
- It is an essential B1 word for adding nuance and precision to descriptions.
The Spanish adjective leve is a versatile term primarily used to describe things that are light in weight, intensity, or importance. At its core, it conveys a sense of minimal impact or substance. When you describe something as leve, you are signaling that it is not heavy, not severe, and certainly not life-threatening or catastrophic. In a physical sense, it can describe a touch so soft it is barely felt, or a breeze that only just moves the leaves on a tree. In a more abstract or medical sense, it is the standard term for 'minor' or 'slight'.
- Physical Weight
- Refers to objects that have very little mass, though 'ligero' is more common for literal weight. 'Leve' often implies a delicacy of touch.
- Medical Severity
- Used to categorize injuries or illnesses that do not require intensive care, such as a 'resfriado leve' (mild cold).
- Abstract Importance
- Describes mistakes, changes, or differences that are negligible or of little consequence in the grand scheme of things.
El paciente sufrió una herida leve en el brazo durante el accidente.
Understanding the nuance of leve requires distinguishing it from its synonyms. While ligero also means light, leve carries a more formal or clinical tone. For instance, in legal contexts, a 'falta leve' is a minor infraction, whereas a 'falta grave' is a serious one. This binary (leve vs. grave) is essential for B1 learners to master, as it appears frequently in news reports, medical dialogues, and formal documentation. It suggests a lack of gravity, both literally and figuratively.
Se sintió un leve temblor de tierra al amanecer.
Hubo una leve mejoría en las ventas este mes.
Un leve matiz de azul decoraba la pared blanca.
El sonido era tan leve que casi nadie lo notó.
In summary, leve is the go-to adjective for anything that is 'slight'. Whether it's a slight headache, a slight change in temperature, or a slight error in a report, leve provides the necessary level of formality and precision. It is an essential building block for moving from basic Spanish to a more intermediate, nuanced level of expression.
Using leve correctly involves understanding its placement and its relationship with the nouns it modifies. As an adjective, it must agree in number with the noun: leve for singular and leves for plural. Because it ends in 'e', it does not change for gender (e.g., un error leve, una herida leve).
- Positioning
- Typically follows the noun to provide a distinguishing characteristic (e.g., 'una brisa leve'). Placing it before the noun (e.g., 'un leve suspiro') can add a poetic or literary emphasis.
- Comparison
- Often used in contrast with 'grave' (serious) or 'agudo' (sharp/intense). It helps establish a scale of intensity.
- Adverbial Form
- The adverbial form is 'levemente', meaning 'slightly' or 'lightly', which is frequently used to modify verbs or other adjectives.
Ella sintió una leve presión en el pecho.
In professional settings, leve is used to downplay the severity of a situation without dismissing it entirely. For example, in a business meeting, saying 'hay una leve discrepancia' sounds much more diplomatic than saying 'estás equivocado'. It allows for a softer correction. Similarly, in medical reports, it provides a clear classification that helps triage patients.
Los daños materiales fueron leves tras la tormenta.
Notamos un leve retraso en la entrega.
Es solo un leve inconveniente.
When writing, pay attention to the flow of the sentence. Because leve is a short, punchy word, it works well at the end of a clause to provide a definitive but soft conclusion. In spoken Spanish, the 'v' is pronounced like a soft 'b', which can make the word sound very gentle, matching its meaning.
You will encounter leve in a variety of real-world scenarios, ranging from the evening news to a visit to the doctor. It is a staple of 'official' language but remains accessible enough for daily conversation. Its presence in media is particularly high when reporting on accidents, weather, or economic fluctuations.
- News Reports
- Journalists use it to describe the impact of events: 'heridos leves' (lightly injured people) or 'leves descensos en la bolsa' (slight drops in the stock market).
- Medical Contexts
- Doctors use it to diagnose: 'una infección leve' or 'un traumatismo leve'. It is the first level on many medical scales.
- Legal/Official
- Traffic tickets or workplace warnings might classify an offense as 'leve', which usually implies a small fine rather than a major penalty.
El informe meteorológico anunció leves precipitaciones para el norte.
In literature and music, leve is used to create atmosphere. A 'leve aroma' or a 'leve luz' evokes a sense of subtlety and beauty. It is a favorite word for poets who want to describe the ephemeral or the delicate. If you are listening to Spanish ballads or reading contemporary novels, listen for how leve is used to describe emotions or sensory experiences that are just beneath the surface.
El árbitro consideró que fue una falta leve.
Siento un leve mareo, nada importante.
Había una leve capa de nieve sobre los coches.
Finally, in everyday social interactions, you might hear it when someone is apologizing for a small mistake: 'Fue un error leve, no te preocupes'. It serves as a linguistic cushion, softening the impact of negative information and helping to maintain social harmony.
One of the most frequent errors for English speakers is confusing leve with ligero. While both can translate to 'light', they are not always interchangeable. Ligero is the opposite of pesado (heavy in weight), while leve is the opposite of grave (heavy in importance or severity).
- Leve vs. Ligero
- Don't say 'esta maleta es leve'. Say 'esta maleta es ligera'. Use 'leve' for things like 'una leve brisa' or 'un leve dolor'.
- Agreement Errors
- Even though 'leve' doesn't change for gender, it must change for number. 'Los problemas son leves', not 'los problemas son leve'.
- Overuse
- Learners sometimes use 'leve' when they mean 'pequeño'. While a 'leve error' is a 'small error', you wouldn't call a small dog a 'perro leve'.
Incorrecto: Tengo un leve perro. Correcto: Tengo un perro pequeño.
Another mistake is using leve to describe personality. In English, we might say someone has a 'light' personality, but in Spanish, leve doesn't quite fit there. You would use alegre or superficial depending on what you mean. Leve is strictly for intensity and impact.
Incorrecto: Esta caja es leve. Correcto: Esta caja es ligera.
No confundas leve con 'suave'. 'Suave' is for texture (soft).
Un error leve no es lo mismo que un error 'pequeño' en todos los contextos.
Finally, be careful with the adverb levemente. Sometimes students use it when they mean 'un poco'. While often synonymous, levemente is more formal. If you're chatting with friends, 'un poco' is usually better. If you're writing an essay, levemente is your best friend.
To truly master leve, you must see how it sits alongside other words that mean 'light' or 'small'. Spanish has a rich vocabulary for degrees of intensity, and choosing the right one makes you sound like a native speaker.
- Leve vs. Ligero
- Leve = slight/minor (intensity). Ligero = light (weight/speed). Example: 'Una leve brisa' vs. 'Un equipaje ligero'.
- Leve vs. Suave
- Leve = minor. Suave = soft/smooth (texture/sound). Example: 'Un leve roce' (a slight touch) vs. 'Una piel suave' (soft skin).
- Leve vs. Tenue
- Tenue is specifically for light or sound that is faint or dim. 'Una luz tenue' is more common than 'una luz leve'.
La diferencia entre leve y grave es fundamental en medicina.
In the realm of synonyms, you might also consider insignificante, nimio, or superficial. However, leve is the most neutral and widely applicable. Insignificante suggests that something doesn't matter at all, while leve just says it's on the lower end of the scale. Nimio is very formal and usually refers to details. Superficial refers to things that are only on the surface, like a 'herida superficial', which is often also a 'herida leve'.
Una leve sospecha cruzó por su mente.
El cuadro presenta una leve inclinación.
Prefiero un sabor leve a uno muy fuerte.
By comparing these words, you can see that leve is the 'Goldilocks' of Spanish adjectives for smallness—not too poetic like tenue, not too physical like ligero, and not too judgmental like insignificante. It is just right for describing the many slight things we encounter every day.
How Formal Is It?
難易度
知っておくべき文法
Adjective agreement
Position of adjectives
Adverb formation with -mente
Comparatives (más leve que)
Superlatives (el más leve)
レベル別の例文
Tengo un dolor leve.
I have a slight pain.
Adjective 'leve' follows the noun 'dolor'.
Hay una brisa leve hoy.
There is a light breeze today.
Brisa is feminine, but 'leve' doesn't change gender.
Es un error leve.
It is a minor mistake.
Singular adjective for a singular noun.
La sopa tiene un sabor leve.
The soup has a mild flavor.
Describes intensity of flavor.
Siento un mareo leve.
I feel a slight dizziness.
Common medical use.
El niño tiene una fiebre leve.
The boy has a mild fever.
Mild intensity.
Es una lluvia leve.
It is a light rain.
Synonym for 'llovizna'.
Vi una leve luz.
I saw a faint light.
Positioned before the noun for emphasis.
El coche tiene un daño leve.
The car has minor damage.
Used to describe physical condition.
Tuvimos un leve retraso.
We had a slight delay.
Common in travel contexts.
Ella tiene una leve ventaja.
She has a slight advantage.
Abstract comparison.
Hay una leve diferencia de precio.
There is a slight price difference.
Comparing amounts.
El paciente muestra una leve mejoría.
The patient shows a slight improvement.
Formal medical report style.
Fue un golpe leve en la rodilla.
It was a light blow to the knee.
Describes physical impact.
Escuché un leve ruido en la cocina.
I heard a slight noise in the kitchen.
Describes sound intensity.
La película tuvo un leve éxito.
The movie had a modest success.
Describes degree of success.
El médico dijo que la infección es leve.
The doctor said the infection is mild.
Predicate adjective after 'es'.
Se cometió una falta leve en el trabajo.
A minor infraction was committed at work.
Legal/Administrative term.
Sintió un leve temblor durante la noche.
He felt a slight tremor during the night.
Common for earthquakes.
Hay una leve discrepancia en los datos.
There is a slight discrepancy in the data.
Professional/Academic context.
El herido fue dado de alta por ser un caso leve.
The injured person was discharged for being a mild case.
Medical triage terminology.
Notamos una leve caída en las temperaturas.
We noticed a slight drop in temperatures.
Weather/Climate context.
El autor utiliza un leve toque de ironía.
The author uses a slight touch of irony.
Literary analysis.
Solo fue un leve malentendido.
It was just a slight misunderstanding.
Social softening.
La estructura presenta una leve inclinación hacia el norte.
The structure has a slight lean to the north.
Technical description.
A pesar de la crisis, el impacto fue leve en este sector.
Despite the crisis, the impact was minor in this sector.
Economic analysis.
El perfume dejaba un leve rastro de jazmín.
The perfume left a faint trace of jasmine.
Sensory description.
Hubo una leve controversia sobre el nuevo reglamento.
There was a slight controversy regarding the new regulation.
Nuanced social description.
Se aprecia una leve distorsión en la imagen.
A slight distortion can be seen in the image.
Technical/Visual context.
La noticia provocó una leve agitación en la bolsa.
The news caused a slight stir in the stock market.
Financial reporting.
El paciente padece una insuficiencia renal leve.
The patient suffers from mild renal insufficiency.
Specific medical diagnosis.
Sus palabras contenían una leve amenaza.
His words contained a slight threat.
Abstract/Psychological.
La reforma solo introdujo leves modificaciones al texto original.
The reform only introduced slight modifications to the original text.
Formal/Legal context.
Un leve matiz semántico cambia todo el sentido de la frase.
A slight semantic nuance changes the whole meaning of the sentence.
Linguistic analysis.
La pintura destaca por su leve gradación de colores.
The painting stands out for its slight gradation of colors.
Art criticism.
El fiscal calificó el delito como una infracción leve.
The prosecutor classified the crime as a minor offense.
Legal classification.
Se percibe un leve aroma a tierra mojada tras la lluvia.
A faint scent of wet earth is perceived after the rain.
Evocative/Poetic.
El estudio revela una leve correlación entre ambas variables.
The study reveals a slight correlation between both variables.
Scientific/Statistical.
Su rostro mostraba una leve sombra de duda.
His face showed a slight shadow of doubt.
Literary/Metaphorical.
La orquesta interpretó la pieza con una leve aceleración final.
The orchestra performed the piece with a slight final acceleration.
Musical terminology.
La levedad del ser es un tema recurrente en su obra.
The lightness of being is a recurring theme in his work.
Noun form 'levedad'.
El poema se desliza con una leve cadencia melancólica.
The poem glides with a slight melancholic cadence.
Highly stylistic.
Cualquier leve alteración en el ecosistema puede ser fatal.
Any slight alteration in the ecosystem can be fatal.
Scientific precision.
La sentencia fue revocada por una leve irregularidad procesal.
The sentence was overturned due to a slight procedural irregularity.
Advanced legal jargon.
El filósofo argumenta que existe una leve distinción ontológica.
The philosopher argues that a slight ontological distinction exists.
Academic/Philosophical.
Se advierte una leve ironía en el discurso del embajador.
A slight irony is noted in the ambassador's speech.
Political analysis.
La tela tiene un leve brillo que solo se ve a contraluz.
The fabric has a slight sheen that is only visible against the light.
Detailed sensory observation.
Hubo un leve repunte en la tasa de natalidad el año pasado.
There was a slight uptick in the birth rate last year.
Sociological/Statistical.
よく使う組み合わせ
よく使うフレーズ
よく混同される語
慣用句と表現
間違えやすい
文型パターン
使い方
Used for minor infractions.
Always used for non-serious conditions.
Rarely used for weight.
- Using 'leve' for physical weight (e.g., *maleta leve).
- Forgetting the plural 'leves' for plural nouns.
- Using 'leve' for 'soft' textures (should be 'suave').
- Confusing 'leve' with 'libre' (free).
- Using 'leve' to describe a small person or animal.
ヒント
Scale of Intensity
Think of 'leve' as the first step on a scale: Leve -> Moderado -> Grave -> Muy Grave.
Gender Neutrality
Don't worry about changing the ending to 'a'. 'Leve' works for everything singular.
Medical Accuracy
If you go to a Spanish doctor, use 'leve' to describe a pain that isn't too bad.
Diplomatic Language
Use 'leve' to soften corrections in business meetings.
The Soft V
Practice saying it like 'le-be' with very soft lips.
Common Pairs
Memorize 'falta leve' and 'herida leve' as single units.
News Keywords
When you hear 'accidente', listen for 'leves' to know if people are okay.
Adverbial Use
Use 'levemente' to describe how something changed slightly.
Leve vs Ligero
Ligero = Light (weight). Leve = Slight (importance).
Legal Context
In Spain, a 'falta leve' is like a misdemeanor.
暗記しよう
語源
文化的な背景
Falta leve vs. Delito.
Used to minimize personal drama.
Triaje: leve, moderado, grave.
実生活で練習する
実際の使用場面
会話のきっかけ
"¿Has tenido algún resfriado leve últimamente?"
"¿Hubo algún daño leve en tu casa tras la tormenta?"
"¿Crees que fue un error leve o grave?"
"¿Sientes una leve brisa hoy?"
"¿Has notado una leve subida en los precios?"
日記のテーマ
Describe a time you had a 'herida leve'.
Write about a 'leve mejoría' you've seen in your Spanish.
What is a 'falta leve' in your country?
Describe a 'brisa leve' at your favorite beach.
Reflect on a 'leve malentendido' you had recently.
よくある質問
10 問No, debes decir 'mi maleta es ligera'. 'Leve' se refiere a intensidad o importancia, no a peso físico.
El antónimo principal es 'grave', especialmente en contextos médicos o legales.
No, 'leve' termina en 'e', por lo que es igual para ambos géneros (un error leve, una herida leve).
Significa personas que tienen heridas pequeñas que no ponen en riesgo su vida.
Es más formal que 'pequeño' o 'un poco', pero se usa comúnmente en el habla diaria.
Se dice 'levemente', que es el adverbio derivado de 'leve'.
Sí, para describir una 'brisa leve' o 'lluvia leve'.
No. 'Suave' es para textura (soft) o un sonido dulce. 'Leve' es para baja intensidad.
Sí, un 'sabor leve' es un sabor suave o poco intenso.
Sí, aparece frecuentemente en las lecturas de nivel B1 y B2 sobre salud o noticias.
自分をテスト 30 問
Write a sentence about a minor injury using 'leve'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'There is a slight difference.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Pronounce 'levemente' correctly.
Read this aloud:
あなたの回答：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Use 'leves' in a sentence about problems.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
/ 30 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Mastering 'leve' allows you to accurately describe the severity of situations. For example, 'una herida leve' (a minor injury) tells someone immediately that the situation is not life-threatening, whereas 'grave' would signal danger.
- Leve means slight, minor, or light in terms of intensity or importance.
- It is commonly used in medical, legal, and weather-related contexts in Spanish.
- It is the opposite of 'grave' (serious) and is distinct from 'ligero' (light weight).
- It is an essential B1 word for adding nuance and precision to descriptions.
Scale of Intensity
Think of 'leve' as the first step on a scale: Leve -> Moderado -> Grave -> Muy Grave.
Gender Neutrality
Don't worry about changing the ending to 'a'. 'Leve' works for everything singular.
Medical Accuracy
If you go to a Spanish doctor, use 'leve' to describe a pain that isn't too bad.
Diplomatic Language
Use 'leve' to soften corrections in business meetings.
例文
Solo tengo un resfriado leve.
関連コンテンツ
文脈で学ぶ
この単語を他の言語で
healthの関連語
abdomen
B1腹部は、胸部と骨盤の間の身体の部分です。
accidentarse
B1事故に遭う (jiko ni au).
adelgazar
A2To lose weight or become thinner.
además de
B1勉強に加えて、彼は夜に働いています。
adicción
B1依存症とは、特定の物質や活動をやめられなくなる状態のことです。
adicto
B1彼はコーヒー中毒です。
adicto/a
B1特定の物質や活動に肉体的または心理的に依存している人。 「彼はチョコ中毒です。」
adolorido
B1体が痛む、または筋肉痛を感じる。
afección
B1病状、疾患。 '彼は呼吸器系の疾患（afección）を患っています。'
afectivo
B1母子の情緒的な絆は不可欠です。
