“You are very cute.” He said.

Marianna got turned off all of a sudden, with a cold“thank you”, left him standing chilled. The poor fellow would probably puzzle what he had done wrong for the rest of his life.

At every dinner in the next few days, Marianna was obsessed with this incident.

“What did he mean by cute? It is not beautiful, not sexy. It conveys nothing. Anything can be described as cute. I would rather be anything but cute. I am not cute! I AM NOT CUTE!” She was almost in tears, upsetting, so were we, laughing.

As amusing as it was, I had to admit that she got a point. Ranking all the compliments I received in the past years, cute was surely not the best one can get.

“Glamour” is in a Vera Wang ice blue satin evening gown and Jackie O hairdo smoothing 500 guests at my brother’s wedding.

“dazzling” is in a custom made lilac brocade silk Qipao hosting a Guzhen concert at Lincoln Center.

“Stunning” is in a Versace burgundy jeweled cocktail dress chatting at the Carlyle Group gala in the Air and Space Museum in DC.

“Drop dead gorgeous” is in a black second skin mini dress and a pair of stiletto dancing in a club in Flatrion.

“Beautiful” is in a Diane von Furstenburg white wrap dress testing wine in Napa Valley.

“Pretty” is in a Bluemarine dusty rose chiffon long skirt with ballet flats lunching at the Boathouse in Central Park.

“Sexy” is in a pair of Roberto Cavalli dark blue demin jeans with a halter top dinning in a jazz restaurant on St Mark Place.

“Attractive” is in a retro multi color geometric print dress conversing in the lounge at the Algunqin Hotel.

“Exotic” is in white bikinis with tanned skin coming out of the ocean after a swim in Virgin Islands.

Though all are very flattering, they usually refer to the first impression of the appearance, which can change over time and setting. On the other hand, “cute” and “adorable” are remarks on the personality with a sense of affection and the feeling of not able to resist. One would describe the penguin surfing on the wave in the Galapagos as cute that one wants to touch it. One would say an infant with rosy cheeks is adorable that one can’t help caressing him. 

“I would rather be cute than be beautiful.”

I thought to myself after comparing all definitions but knowing that wouldn’t sooth her wound, I said instead,

“Of course not. You are not cute, you are beautiful and sexy, sweetie.”