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"Cursi" is an adjective which is often translated as "corny", and "cutre" is an adjective which is often translated as "stingy". Learn more about the difference between "cursi" and "cutre" below.
cursi(
koor
-
see
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
2. (gaudy)
a. tacky
Ese diseño de florecitas y mariposas me parece muy cursi para un vestido de gala formal.I think the flowers and butterflies design is too tacky for a formal gala outfit.
a. affected
La manera en que actuó en la obra me pareció más cursi que dramática.The way he acted in the play seemed to me more affected than dramatic.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Él siempre llora con las películas románticas. ¡Es un cursi!He always cries when watching romantic movies. He's so precious!
Solo una cursi usaría lenguaje tan florido en su autobiografía.Only someone seriously affected would use such overly flowery language in her autobiography.
cutre(
koo
-
treh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (colloquial) (cheap)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. stingy
¡No seas cutre! Déjale una buena propina al mesero.Don't be so stingy! Leave the waiter a good tip.
b. tight-fisted
Victorio tiene un buen salario. No entiendo por qué es tan cutre.Victorio has a good salary. I don't understand why he's so tight-fisted.
2. (colloquial) (dingy)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. shabby
Amanda vivía en un apartamento cutre que tenía muebles viejos y paredes con humedad.Amanda lived in a shabby apartment with old furniture and moldy walls.
b. seedy
Todas las habitaciones de hotel estaban reservadas, así que tuvimos que pernoctar en un motel cutre.All the hotel rooms were booked, so we had to spend the night in a seedy motel.
3. (colloquial) (badly made)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. shoddy
La silla era tan cutre que se rompió cuando me senté en ella.The chair was so shoddy that it broke when I sat on it.
