subtle
sub·tle/ˈsʌtəl/adjective, noun, verb
subtle is spelled S-U-B-T-L-E: 6 letters and 2 syllables (sub·tle). It appears 12 times per million words in written English, the 6,230th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, subtle means “Of an action or movement: very delicate or slight, and thus barely noticeable; not obvious; inconspicuous, unintrusive” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in subtle?
| Letters | 6: S-U-B-T-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: sub·tle |
| In writing | 12 times per million words; the 6,230th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with | |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is subtle?
Subtle appears 12 times per million words in written English, the 6,230th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce subtle?
- UK /ˈsʌtl̩/
- US /ˈsʌtəl/
- US [ˈsʌɾɫ̩]
Subtle has 2 syllables, split sub·tle in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-subtle.ogg, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Naomi_Persephone_Amethyst_(NaomiAmethyst)-subtle.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with subtle?
3 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as subtle from its last stressed vowel (/ʌtəl/):
Spelled with the same letters in another order: bustle, sublet.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of subtle
- subtler comparative
- more subtle comparative
- subtlest superlative
- most subtle superlative
- subtil
- subtile
- subtill
- suttle
- the subtle
- subtles present, singular, he/she/it
- subtling participle, present
- subtled participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does subtle mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Of an action or movement: very delicate or slight, and thus barely noticeable; not obvious; inconspicuous, unintrusive.
The mighty Magnet from the Center darts / This ſtrong, tho' ſubtile Force, thro' all the Parts: / Its active Rays ejaculated thence, / Irradiate all the wide Circumference.
- 2
archaicHaving a delicate or fine substance or texture; hence, exquisite, refined.
- 3
archaicSlender, thin.
- 4
archaicOf a substance: finely powdered; also, of particles of a substance: very fine or small.
- 5
archaicOf weight: after the tare (“weight of an empty container”) has been subtracted; net.
- 6
Of a substance, especially a gas or liquid: of low density or thin consistency; rarefied, tenuous; hence, tending to spread everywhere due to this quality.
- 7
obsoleteSynonym of subtile (“of a ship: narrow, slender”).
- 8
Of an argument or concept, words, etc.: requiring one to distinguish between fine points, especially if it is difficult to do so; nice; also (generally), difficult to grasp; not easily understood or obvious.
noun
- 1
People or things that are subtle (adjective sense) as a class.
verb
- 1
USTo make (something) subtle (“giving only a slight impression; also, skilfully restrained or understated”).
- 2
obsoleterareTo burn (someone or something) to ash.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Subtle in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense of an argument or concept, words, etc.: requiring one to distinguish between fin:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | subtil, délicat |
| German | subtil, dezent, fast unmerklich, feinsinnig, haarfein |
| Portuguese | subtil, sutil |
| Spanish | sutil |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.