Miss Zebra"Dang, you're cute today." My friend ducks out of the way as I reach up to playfully slap him. Call me weird, but I have a problem with the word "cute" when directed towards how I look. And most of my friends know that, therefore they can use it to their advantage (and my dismay) sometimes.
Someone told me it was because I was called cute in excessive amounts when I was younger. But in my mind I associate "cute" with babies, puppy dogs, cute little animal things you would see made into stuffed animals and sold in a corner store. Not as something you call an attractive woman. "Pretty," "beautiful," "attractive," etc... are fine, but not "cute." It almost seems like a cop-out. It's a lot easier to call someone "cute" than "beautiful." I hold to the same when talking about a guy. I'm not the type of person who comments on guys' looks a lot anyway, but when I do, I don't call them "cute" (unless they do fall in the range of puppy dogs and babies, but then that's never to their face.)
The guys I've talked to, on the other hand, define it differently. One of my good friends said, "If I call a girl 'hot,' it's because I find her looks very attractive. If I call a girl 'cute,' though, it's because I find her looks, conversation and personality attractive. It encompasses the whole person rather than just her looks."
What do you think? Are there specific words or phrases you prefer when directed towards how you look?
Do you have specific definitions of words that differ from the general population?
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Comments (104)
i dont understand.i like words. sorry im not trying to be deviant. i dont understand how you can not like some words over others.....maybe im just old and am losing my mind again?
I see where you're coming from. The term adorable used to describe the appearance of people over a certain age drives me up the wall. It isn't that big of a deal, it is kind of flattering that people still find me adorable at 22.
Most words used to describe my appearance don't bother me much. I would prefer to be called beautiful or gorgeous over anything else though. Those terms seem to hold more endearment and encompass more than just my appearance. In the end, they are all compliments.
I actually like being called cute, over words like "hot" and "sexy". I think cute does have more meaning to it, like it includes the personality as well as looks.
But still, beautiful beats all those words. :)
Well I like the word cute. I don't know. I'm a sucker for every flattery.
@fugu62@xanga - lol
I like being called cute by guys hahaha. =P Only because I think what the guy you mentioned defined it as is really the general consensus for guys.
However, if a girl were to come up to me and say that, it could get irritating. Depends on who says it hahah
Sounds like you have a hangup that you could stand to get over.
@purplepixiepoo@xanga -
@laurenmaureen@xanga - you are cute!
Hey, it's a compliment. I happen to look like a puppy dog, especially with eyeliner. I mean, my looks are rather innocent;baby face.
But I see your point. Oh, I contradicted myself. Cute is the word to use when hot and gorgeous aren't an option. But I'd rather be called cute than ugly
Cute is definately a different adjective for attractiveness, and personally, I like, "Cute," girls, it's what I find attractive.
I personally find being called cute frustrating, because, as a guy, I hear cute, and what goes through my mind is, "Not a chance." It's not that I'm unattractive; nobody tells me that, in fact, I constantly hear that I am very attractive, but just in the cute way. And girls, honestly? Do you want a cute guy? As in, a guy you can see and say you think is adorable? No, girls tend to want hot guys.
I'm happy that I'm a cute guy, to be honest, because that is really what I am, but that's honestly not what people find physically attractive, so I have to deal with it.
@thegreatchristopher@xanga - aw thank you! =]
I'm flattered if a girl calls me cute. I might describe a girl as cute if I think she's attractive. Now if I call a girl gorgeous or beautiful then I REALLY think she's attractive haha.
p.s. I gotta admit, a good proportion of the girls who comment on this site are cute, if not more. Kudos everyone!
I also hate the word cute. I associate it with those things, but it also feels like less of a compliment. And that's all I ever am to people. It's never "pretty" or even something lame like "not half bad looking." No. I'm just cute.
I guess it's just one of those bothersome words.
I've always used cute as a comment on a friends' physical appearance; a friend that I have absolutely no romantic interest in. Describing a woman as beautiful or hot, in my mind means I would want to follow her into the bedroom. I don't think I've ever heard someone call a girl cute unless they were: 1. Her friend 2. Not interested in her romantically
I always took the word cute to mean something a guy would call a girl if he didn't want to call her ugly, but didn't think she was attractive. My boyfriend agrees when it refers to looks, but he uses cute to describe my personality, which I am perfectly fine with.Â
Rather be cute than hot!
I will not allow anyone to call me "babe" or "baby" for the same reasons. It's an extremely condescending pet name, and I can't stand it. "Darling" or "Lovey" are fine, because they imply adoration on any level. "Baby" is from the perspective of looking down on someone, though, and seems completely inappropriate for a relationship.
Oh is that what "cute" means when a guy calls you that? I can't say I buy it. When guys say that to me, it's usually when they're in the middle of doing something they read on the internet, along the lines of "Kiss her on the forehead and call her cute." While I can't deny that shit gives me the fuzzies, I also don't take it to heart. I can't stand being called "cute" (or "hot" really, either)!
@laurenmaureen@xanga - welcome! hugs!
@immaairheadxl@xanga - you are cute!
hmmm i was never really considered 'cute' ...just not my personality
haha i used to be awful with taking compliments, i just didn't think it
necessary...i have finally learned the art of the smile/nod and "thanks"
with some modicum of graciousness..
i am really fond of my name, and am more likely to pay attention when
someone uses it. call me my name-- not sweetie, babe/baby, honey, etc...those words only seem
to get used when a guy wants something, usually forgiveness or a favor of some kind...
@PJrhymeswithcoolJ@xanga - i do use cute to mean "not a chance." sorry buddy. usually the "cute" guys are lovers, and personally, i like fighters.
cute doesn't just mean looks.
cute guys do get girls if they are like, "omg so preciousss!!!" lol
I always say dolls, don't call me cute, call me sexy.
Wow. It's like you took the words right out of my mouth! I've got the same peeve as you & think of it in the same way. I hate it when people, especially my boyfriend, call me cute. While I do know he means otherwise, it comes off different in a girl's vocabulary. It'd help if there were a "dictionary" of terms that guys use but mean otherwise compared to a girl's definition..
Yea, I wouldn't call a guy cute [to his face] 'cause that'd just emasculate him..