Vastny Languages editorial team
Beautiful, pretty, lovely, and handsome: what's the difference?
Beautiful expresses strong admiration. Pretty often suggests an attractive, delicate appearance. Lovely adds warmth or pleasure and can describe experiences too. Handsome is common for men's looks and also for some objects.
Beautiful expresses strong admiration. Pretty often suggests an attractive, delicate appearance. Lovely adds warmth or pleasure and can describe experiences too. Handsome is common for men's looks and also for some objects.
Which word fits here?
Use beautiful for a very attractive person, place or thing, or something that inspires admiration.
Use pretty for an attractive appearance, often with a lighter or more delicate feeling.
Use lovely for something attractive or enjoyable, with a warm approving tone.
Use handsome especially for an attractive man, and sometimes for an impressive building or well-made object.
How to choose a word
Use beautiful for a very attractive person, place or thing, or something that inspires admiration.
Use pretty for an attractive appearance, often with a lighter or more delicate feeling.
Use lovely for something attractive or enjoyable, with a warm approving tone.
Use handsome especially for an attractive man, and sometimes for an impressive building or well-made object.
Word by word
beautiful
Use beautiful for a very attractive person, place or thing, or something that inspires admiration.
The view from the balcony was beautiful.
She has a beautiful voice.
pretty
Use pretty for an attractive appearance, often with a lighter or more delicate feeling.
She wore a pretty blue dress.
They live in a pretty little house near the river.
lovely
Use lovely for something attractive or enjoyable, with a warm approving tone.
Thank you for a lovely evening.
She gave me a lovely smile.
handsome
Use handsome especially for an attractive man, and sometimes for an impressive building or well-made object.
He looked very handsome in his suit.
His grandfather was a handsome young man.
