Learn English – Differences between ‘sensual’ and ‘sensuous’

adjectivesdifferencesetymologymeaning

Both are adjectives;

Sensual:

"Connected with your physical feelings; giving pleasure to your physical senses." (OALD) the origin is from Latin sensulis, from sensus 'faculty of feeling, thought, meaning', from sentire 'feel'.

Sensuous:

"Giving pleasure to your senses." (OALD) the origin is from Latin sensus 'sense'+ous.

Here are two examples:

"The sensual feel of a velvet shirt against the skin."(Merriam Webster)

"The sensuous feeling of silk on her skin." (Longman Dictionary)

I wonder if "sensual" and "sensuous" can be interchangeable or there is a subtle difference.

Best Answer

The terms technically resemble each other, but in my experience, "sensuous" is a less excitable term and refers to information taken in through the senses; whereas "sensual" is more provocative, even suggestive. The latter would be more pleasurable as a rule. Here's a note from my computer dictionary (New Oxford American):

usage: The words sensual and sensuous are frequently used interchangeably to mean ‘gratifying the senses,’ especially in a sexual sense. Strictly speaking, this goes against a traditional distinction, by which sensuous is a more neutral term, meaning ‘relating to the senses rather than the intellect’ ( swimming is a beautiful, sensuous experience), while sensual relates to gratification of the senses, especially sexually ( a sensual massage). In fact, the word sensuous is thought to have been invented by John Milton (1641) in a deliberate attempt to avoid the sexual overtones of sensual. In practice, the connotations are such that it is difficult to use sensuous in Milton's sense. While traditionalists struggle to maintain a distinction, the evidence suggests that the neutral use of sensuous is rare in modern English. If a neutral use is intended, it is advisable to use alternative wording.

Perhaps, "Our day at the spa was exceedingly sensuous" vs "Her whisper in my ear was so sensual I could hardly take a breath."

Related Topic