| Comment | 'cute' generally is a description of how someone looks, so if I were to say that a woman is cute, I mean that she is good-looking in appearance. It does not necessarilly mean that the person is 'beautiful' though. The word 'cute' is somewhat dimunitive, especially when used with children. A baby is very often refered to as 'cute'.
'cute' can also be a description of of how someone does something that may be mildly humorous or nice or even quaint in a diminutive way. In that definition it is closest to 'sweet'.
That is so cute the way you do that. (quaint, 'niedlich')
You are the cutest woman in the whole world! ('niedlich' or pretty - depends on context)
You know Sheila, the cute girl who lives on Maple street. (pretty)
'sweet' is used similar to cute when it is used to describe how nice a person thinks someone else is. It would not be used generally to describe how someone looks.
My wife is the sweetest woman I know. (nice, pleasant in disposition)
It was very sweet of you to say that. (nice, kind)
Your sweet ways make me want to blush sometimes! (nice, pleasant in disposition)
Neither of these words would work well in a formal setting. :)
With your examples 'You are so cute' and 'You are so sweet' mean about the same thing- nice, pleasant, nice to be around. The first one (You are so cute.) can also refer to physical appearance depending on context.
'cutie' and 'sweety' are diminutive terms of endearment. Both words could also be something you call a baby. 'cutie' is more an expression of physical appearance AND/OR disposition, where 'sweety' is more just an expression of disposition.
If I call my wife 'sweety' I am alluding to her disposition or her ways. If I call her 'cutie' I am alluding to her appearance.
Hope that helps, sweety :) |
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