Log inSign up

El cachorro pequeño es muy tierno.

El cachorro pequeño es muy tierno.
The small puppy is very sweet.
FromLesson 6inHardcore Spanish (Latin America)

Breakdown of El cachorro pequeño es muy tierno.

ser
to be
pequeño
small
muy
very
tierno
sweet
el cachorro
the puppy

Questions & Answers about El cachorro pequeño es muy tierno.

Why is the definite article El used instead of La?
Because cachorro is a masculine noun in Spanish, so it needs the masculine article El. If it were a feminine noun (like la mesa), you would use La instead.
Why does the adjective pequeño come after the noun cachorro?
In Spanish, descriptive adjectives commonly follow the noun. Saying el cachorro pequeño emphasizes a literal characteristic ("the puppy that is small"). Some adjectives can go before the noun, but in general descriptive adjectives appear after.
Why do we use es instead of está?
Es (from ser) is used for more permanent or defining characteristics (like being small or tender), while está (from estar) typically expresses temporary states or locations. Because being tender is seen as an inherent quality here, es is used.
How is cachorro different from perro?
Cachorro specifically refers to a young dog (a puppy), while perro is just the general word for "dog" regardless of age. Think of cachorro as "puppy."
What is the difference between muy and mucho?
Muy means "very" and is used before adjectives and adverbs (e.g., muy tierno = "very tender"). Mucho means "much" or "a lot" and is used with nouns or as an adverb expressing quantity (e.g., tengo mucho trabajo = "I have a lot of work").
Does tierno have any synonyms that could also work here?
Yes, you could say dulce (sweet), lindo (cute), or adorable. However, tierno specifically conveys a sense of sweetness or tenderness that fits a small puppy perfectly.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How does verb conjugation work in Spanish?”
Spanish verbs change form based on the subject, tense, and mood. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns depending on whether they end in ‑ar, ‑er, or ‑ir. For example, "hablar" (to speak) becomes "hablo" (I speak), "hablas" (you speak), and "habla" (he/she speaks) in the present tense.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Spanish

Master Spanish — from El cachorro pequeño es muy tierno to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Spanish freeBrowse the full course