sanft

Sanft is a German adjective meaning gentle, soft, mild, or tender. It describes people, things, or actions characterized by gentleness or softness. For example: eine sanfte Stimme (a gentle voice), sanftes Licht (soft light), ein sanfter Wind. It also functions as an adverb: Er streichelte das Tier sanft.

The word originates in the Germanic linguistic area and is attested in Old High German and Middle High German with senses linked to softness and mildness. In modern German it remains common and is used in a wide range of contexts, from physical texture to temperament. It occurs in compound terms such as sanftmütig (gentle-hearted), Sanftmut (gentleness), and in phrases like sanft vorgehen (to proceed gently) or sanft berühren (to touch gently).

In usage, sanft often carries a normative connotation of kindness or restraint, as opposed to forceful or harsh behavior. It can describe sensory impressions (sanfte Farben, soft colors), musical or atmospheric qualities (sanfte Musik), or interpersonal tone. Synonyms include mild, freundlich, behutsam, and zärtlich in particular contexts; antonyms include grob, hart, rau.