There is a lot of confusion, not among people but also in English in the dictionary. There are a lot of people who think that there is no difference between pretty and beautiful.
Well, let me tell you, they are not the same; there is a lot of difference between them.
Key Takeaways
- Pretty is an adjective that describes something or someone that is visually pleasing or attractive, delicately or charmingly.
- Beautiful is an adjective used to describe something or someone that is aesthetically pleasing or attractive more profoundly or strikingly.
- Both pretty and beautiful can be used to express admiration or appreciation for appearance, but they differ in the degree and nature of attractiveness they convey.
Pretty vs Beautiful
Pretty is an adjective that is used to say that an individual’s outward appearance and style are appealing to people and also that the person is good looking. Beautiful is an adjective that’s used on an individual that’s appealing on the inside and also in their outside appearance.
Pretty is a word used for gracefully attractive people without being truly beautiful. The word pretty is India’s submission, which means good, attractive, handsome, and English origin.
The word pretty can be used as a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. Beautiful means something or someone who is very much attractive or good-looking.
Beauty means feeling comfortable, appreciating your imperfection, feeling good about yourself, and being confident.
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Pretty | Beautiful |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Pretty means a person’s outward appearance appeals to people. | Beautiful means a person looks good not only by his outward appearance but also from the inside. |
| Relationship | Being pretty will not help you to make a relationship with other people if you are not beautiful. | A beautiful person can easily form relationships with others as they are beautiful from the inside. |
| Comparison | Pretty is considered a weaker term adjective compared to beautiful. | Beautiful is considered to be a stronger term adjective as compared to pretty. |
| Style | Being pretty means being more general, as their looks can attract many people. | Being beautiful means being unique; a person is a person who is beautiful on the inside too. |
| Features | It has some quality of beauty. | It has some quality of beauty with an appealing nature. |
What is Pretty?
Pretty can have a different definition as it depends on the subject. Women and babies are said to be pretty when talking of an attractive person.
Pretty is an adjective that refers to a person being attractive and having good looks from outer appearance, not from inside. Pretty can also be defined as good-looking, appealing, attractive, lovely, or nice-looking.
It also has a different meaning, which depends upon variance, and the user should be brought out well if the meaning needs to be retained. The word pretty can also be referred to as the quality of being attractive.
It can be referred to as a person’s physical appearance and one physical feature. It is considered that if a man says she is pretty, then he has some feelings for her.
It considers being different when he says she is hot or fit, which will probably mean that he is not looking for anything than talking or having a short time fling. If a man tells a woman she is pretty, she should be happy as he is considering her for a long-term relationship.
What is Beautiful?
The word beautiful is more than just being pretty. The English dictionary defines beauty as attractive in the eyes of the person and the mind and sense aesthetically.
A good example would be to say a story is beautiful, which means it pleases the listener of the narration or the reader. Therefore, not being satisfying derived from the story’s structure or how the artist thought has been observed, but it would be purely on the message.
The beautiful woman also has confidence. Their skills are good, too; you can never draw similarities between beautiful and pretty because of those skills.
Most of the time, beautiful is used to describe women. If any man tells a woman she is beautiful, she has a friendly nature, regardless of whether she is pretty on the outside or not.
If that woman’s brain is to go by, she has a smart one. By the power of her brain and other qualities, we can tell she has a charming nature.
Beautiful ladies also have a supporting nature. Most of the time, they will show joy, love, care, generosity, and passion because of these qualities everyone would want around them, making the women most beautiful.
Main Differences Between Pretty and Beautiful
- Being pretty means a person is attractive only from the outside. On the other hand, being beautiful means that a person is not only attractive from the outside but has many qualities that make the person beautiful from the inside.
- A pretty is a weaker adjective to define any person; on the other hand, beautiful is a stronger adjective for defining a person.
- Being pretty can attract people every time, but they run away when they become familiar with you. Which means a person does not have beautiful behaviour. On the other hand, a beautiful woman will show joy, love, care, generosity, and passion because of these qualities; everyone would want to be around them.
- A beautiful individual can quickly form relationships with family, friends, and partners and maintain them excellently. In contrast, pretty women face difficulty in maintaining it as they are not beautiful from the inside.
- Pretty reflects only the outward appearance of the people, while being beautiful reflects the outward appearance and shows how beautiful the person is from the inside.
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
This is very enlightening. I’m glad to be learning about the meanings of these words.
It’s funny how we don’t think about these differences in our daily lives, right?
This was a very informative read! I’ll make sure to use these words more thoughtfully from now on.
You’re right, Helen. Understanding these nuances helps us become better communicators.
It’s great to see how much importance these terms carry. Language is truly fascinating.
I had never really thought about beauty and pretty as distinct concepts. My mind is blown!
I know, right? It really changes the way we appreciate language and art.
I’m not convinced that this difference matters so much. Can’t we just enjoy the language without overanalyzing it?
I think it’s important to respect the complexity of language, Paul. It’s what makes it so rich and beautiful.
I had a good laugh reading this. The fuss about beautiful and pretty is a riot!
Absolutely, Tkelly. It’s a reminder that even simple words have complex meanings.
True, Tkelly, but it’s also quite thought-provoking, don’t you think?
This article made me reconsider the way I use these words. Language truly is a treasure trove of hidden meanings.
Definitely, it’s like discovering a whole new dimension of communication.
Absolutely, Bmartin. Understanding these subtleties enriches our expression.
The difference between pretty and beautiful is quite interesting! I never thought about it in this way!
I totally agree, Cooper! The lexical subtleties of these terms have been overlooked for too long!
It’s fascinating, right? The distinction is quite important in literature and art!
I don’t think this distinction is necessary, it’s just making things unnecessarily complicated.
I respectfully disagree, Aaron. The precise use of language is vital in communication.
Who knew pretty and beautiful had such different implications! I’m amazed by this discovery.
It’s really quite intriguing to delve into the intricacies of language, isn’t it?
I don’t think I agree with the necessity of distinguishing these terms. Can’t we just use words without overthinking them?
It’s a matter of perspective, Gordon. Some find joy in exploring the intricacies of language.
I see your point, Gordon, but language benefits from those who seek to understand it deeper.