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What, to you, are the different connotations of each of these words? Is there one you’d rather be called? Do you consider any of them negative?
How about gender– do they all have different meanings if applied to a different gender? Is “cute” cute regardless of if it’s directed toward a man or a woman?
Also, how does age relate to what you’d call someone/want to be called?
“Cute” is the same as “Beautiful” but in a casual, natural sort of way. BTW all of the terms CAN be used of both genders: I do so and encourage others to do so because I think it is a big mistake to let the men have that “macho” thing where they are so uptight and have seperate words and everything. “Cute” is something I only apply to the young…I am now middle-aged and I honestly do not think of people my age (however attractive) as “cute”. Cute goes with puppies and people who are puppy-like cute…like young and carefree and flawless but not in the stiff, formal kind of way that “beautiful” would be. Cute people do have to be beautiful as well as young but cute people are playful and casual; whereas, truly “beautiful” people are very serious and poised like Grace Kelly. Grace Kelly COULD have been “cute” if she had been casual and down-to-earth but she was always regal and poised like a princess even before she was really one. So cute people and beautiful people are the same people as far as “hardware” is concerned but different people as far as software is concerned… Now some people MY age can be “beautiful” even though they are not (technically) absolutely perfect looking anymore because they have wonderful features…like an older Katherine Hepburn or like George Clooney or McSteamy may have grey hairs yet have such great faces that age well…I guess that formerly “cute” people who have aged well pass into “beautiful” finally (inasmuch as they are beautiful for their age), as they are no longer puppyish enough to be called cute, if they still have terrific features. Handsome for a female is usually statuesque like Jill Eickenberry (from the movie “Arthur” around 1981) like a giant Norse goddess…or a tall statuesque Italian woman with a wonderful Roman nose may not be petite enough for cute or pretty–although she may be pretty–still she is striking and attractive and may be called “handsome”. Handsome for a man is similar: he may not have the smallest cute “little boy” nose (like Johnny Carson or George Clooney) but is attractive and striking (Kevin Costner);whereas, a man who is “pretty” (pretty much same as for a girl) is usually petite and delicate. I do not consider any of these as “negative”. And, as far as age relating to what we like to be called, I think that people of your OWN AGE can sometimes carry these terms within our own age group…so I might not believe it from a man of twenty and if he calls me “cute” I’ll feel like a cougar, but if a man is my own age or older he can call me cute and even though I won’t really believe him in a literal sense because I know I am no longer cute, I might believe it coming from him, that HE finds me so. So context…And, I might add, if someone is in love with you, even if you know you’re really not beautiful, generally they will SEE you as beautiful if they’re really looking with the eyes of love.
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-Cute: Someone with a baby face
-Pretty: Someone who is your average good-looking person
-Handsome: A man who is unique, but good-looking
-Beautiful: A woman with is unique, but good-looking
-Gorgeous: Someone who is a classic beauty
-Hot: Some one who appeals to about everyone of the opposite sex
-Sexy: Someone who is physically fit with a good-looking face
I think that most of these can be fine when said throughout someone’s life except: Hot and Sexy. These two are fading attractiveness.
I would much rather be BEAUTIFUL, but I wouldn’t feel bad if I was called any of these words.
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I’m fine with all of them except “cute.” I’ve been called that all my life. It’s the curse of being short with big eyes.
I don’t think these words know any gender in particular; women have been called “handsome” throughout history, and men have been called “beautiful.”